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Vaping and Lung Cancer: What the Evidence Shows

By Know Your Vape · · Updated

Contents

The rise of vaping and its popularity

No study has shown that vaping causes lung cancer in people. Vape aerosol does contain some cancer-causing chemicals, though, and lung cancer usually takes decades to develop, so the question is still open.

Vaping is less harmful than smoking for adults who switch completely, but it is not safe. It is not for non-smokers, anyone under 21, or pregnant people.

Understanding Vaping

What is vaping?

Vaping means inhaling an aerosol made by an e-cigarette or vape pen. The device heats a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, propylene glycol, and vegetable glycerin. Nothing is burned, so there is no smoke.

Different types of vaping devices

Common device types include:

  1. Cigalikes: Small devices shaped like cigarettes, usually disposable or with prefilled cartridges.
  2. Vape pens: Pen-shaped devices with a battery, a heating element, and a refillable tank.
  3. Pod systems: Compact devices with refillable or replaceable pods.
  4. Mods: Larger devices with adjustable wattage and temperature control.
  5. Mechanical mods: Devices without built-in electronic safety features, only for experienced users who understand battery safety and Ohm's law.

Vaping and Lung Cancer

Vaping exposes the lungs to some of the same kinds of harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke, but generally fewer of them and at lower levels. Whether that exposure raises lung cancer risk over many years is not yet known.

Studies and Research Findings

A 2025 systematic review of the cancer risk of vaping found substantial evidence that vaping is associated with biomarkers linked to cancer risk. It concluded that overall evidence on actual cancer risk is still limited.

Most of the 39 studies in that review were cell or animal studies. The few human studies found no significant lung cancer risk in vapers who had never smoked.

The 2018 National Academies review found that chemicals in vape aerosol, such as formaldehyde and acrolein, can damage DNA. Whether vapers inhale enough of them to cause cancer remains to be determined.

Potential Dangers of Vaping on Lung Health

Heating e-liquid can create formaldehyde and acrolein. The aerosol can also contain metals such as nickel, tin, and lead, plus ultrafine particles.

Vaping can irritate the airways. Teens who vape report more cough and wheeze, and vaping is associated with more asthma flare-ups.

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Chemicals in Vaping Products

Harmful chemicals found in vaping liquids

E-liquids are usually made of nicotine, flavorings, and a base of propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. Product quality varies, especially for products from informal sources.

Some flavorings contain diacetyl, which is linked to a serious lung disease. Formaldehyde, acrolein, and volatile organic compounds have also been found in some vape aerosols.

Impact of these chemicals on lung tissue

In lab and animal studies, some of these chemicals cause inflammation and DNA damage in lung cells. Those findings make a cancer risk biologically plausible.

They do not prove that vaping causes lung cancer in people. The National Academies found that switching completely from cigarettes to vaping reduces exposure to many toxicants and carcinogens.

Vaping health concerns are worth understanding. It is essential to stay informed about the risks of e-cigarettes and make educated choices to protect our well-being.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have concerns about your lung health or are experiencing any related symptoms, it is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional.

Other Health Risks Associated with Vaping

Respiratory Issues

Vaping can irritate the airways and cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. People with asthma may notice more flare-ups.

Whether vaping causes long-term lung diseases such as COPD in humans has not yet been established.

Nicotine Addiction

Most vapes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, trouble sleeping, and trouble concentrating.

Nicotine also raises heart rate and blood pressure in the short term. In young people, it can harm brain development.

EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury)

EVALI is a serious lung injury that causes symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fever.

As of February 2020, the CDC counted 2,807 hospitalized EVALI cases or deaths and 68 deaths. Most cases were linked to THC products, especially from informal sources, and vitamin E acetate was strongly linked to the outbreak.

Table: Health Risks Associated with Vaping

Health RiskImpact on Health
Respiratory IssuesAirway irritation, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath
Nicotine AddictionDependence, withdrawal, short-term rise in heart rate and blood pressure
EVALI (Lung Injury)Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever; mostly linked to THC products with vitamin E acetate; can be fatal

Note: The table above provides a summary of the health risks associated with vaping. It is important to consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice and information.

Regulations and Safety Measures

Current regulations on vaping products

In the US, the FDA regulates e-cigarettes as tobacco products. A vape must pass FDA premarket review before it can be legally sold, and the FDA keeps a searchable list of authorized products.

Federal Tobacco 21 law has banned selling e-cigarettes and e-liquids to anyone under 21 since December 2019. No e-cigarette is FDA-approved as a quit-smoking aid.

Steps to take for a safer vaping experience

If you are an adult who has switched from smoking, these steps reduce avoidable risks:

  1. Choose authorized products: Check the FDA's list of authorized products and buy from licensed retailers.
  2. Read product labels: Check nicotine strength, ingredients, and warnings.
  3. Avoid counterfeit and informal products: Never use THC cartridges or e-liquids from informal sources.
  4. Maintain your device: Follow the manufacturer's instructions, and charge batteries with the right charger, since most battery fires happen while charging.
  5. Don't use cigarettes and vapes together: Dual use is not effective and may increase your exposure to toxins.
  6. Plan to quit nicotine: The healthiest option is eventually to stop vaping too. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free help.

Click here to learn more about the dangers of vaping.

Conclusion

Vaping has not been proven to cause lung cancer, but it is not risk-free. The aerosol contains some carcinogens, and long-term human studies are still missing.

For adults who smoke, switching completely to vaping reduces exposure to many carcinogens. For non-smokers and young people, vaping only adds risk.

To learn more about the risks of vaping, please visit KnowYourVape.com. This resource covers topics including the negative effects of vaping, long-term effects, and vaping and health concerns such as asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, lung damage, and heart disease.

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