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Unraveling the Truth: Vaping and Popcorn Lung Risks

By Know Your Vape · · Updated

Contents

Popcorn lung is a rare, incurable lung disease first tied to workers who breathed the flavoring chemical diacetyl. Some e-liquids have contained diacetyl, but the NHS says vaping does not cause popcorn lung.

That doesn't make vaping safe. This article explains what popcorn lung is, where the vaping concern came from, and what the evidence actually shows.

Vaping is for adult smokers looking for an alternative, not for non-smokers or anyone under 21, the US minimum sales age.

What is Popcorn Lung?

Popcorn lung is the common name for bronchiolitis obliterans (also called obliterative bronchiolitis). It causes scarring and narrowing in the lung's smallest airways, which blocks air movement.

The CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) notes that the disease cannot be cured.

The name comes from a NIOSH investigation that began in 2000 into former workers at a microwave popcorn plant. Investigators found that artificial butter flavorings added to the popcorn caused the disease.

Diacetyl gives foods a buttery taste. Breathing it in at work has been linked to severe respiratory impairment. A related chemical, 2,3-pentanedione, has shown similar effects in animal studies.

Explanation of diacetyl and its role

The vaping concern exists because some e-liquid flavors, especially buttery, creamy, and dessert flavors, have contained diacetyl or similar chemicals.

The CDC lists flavorings such as diacetyl among the substances that vape aerosol can contain.

Research on vaping and diacetyl exposure

Testing has found diacetyl in the aerosol of some flavored products. The amount a vaper actually inhales varies widely with the liquid, the device, and how it's used.

Case studies and reported incidents

The proven cases of popcorn lung come from workplaces such as microwave popcorn and flavoring plants, where workers breathed high levels of these chemicals over long periods.

The NHS states plainly that vaping does not cause popcorn lung. Diacetyl is also present in cigarette smoke, and the UK bans it as an ingredient in regulated nicotine e-liquids.

Other chemicals of concern

Diacetyl isn't the only issue. Vape aerosol can also contain formaldehyde, acrolein, metals, and fine particles that may irritate the lungs.

The National Academies' 2018 review found moderate evidence that teens who vape have more cough and wheeze. It found no available evidence yet on whether vaping causes respiratory disease in humans.

Debunking the Myths

FDA regulations and safety measures

FDA regulates e-cigarettes and e-liquids as tobacco products. A company needs a written FDA marketing order to legally sell a new vaping product.

FDA says an authorization does not mean a product is safe or FDA approved. FDA also warns that "there are no safe tobacco products."

Comparison of diacetyl levels in vaping and other sources

Diacetyl is found in cigarette smoke as well as in some e-liquids, according to the NHS.

The amounts in any given e-liquid vary. Liquids sold in markets that ban diacetyl, such as the UK, should not contain it as an ingredient.

Expert opinions on the risks

The NHS says that in the short and medium term, vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking. It also says vaping is not completely harmless and long-term effects are unknown.

The CDC says vape aerosol generally has fewer harmful chemicals than cigarette smoke, but "this does not make e-cigarettes safe."

Both agencies agree that non-smokers and young people should never vape.

Understanding the Risks

Popcorn lung is a real, serious disease, but it's linked to heavy workplace exposure, not to vaping. The bigger respiratory concerns with vaping are airway irritation, cough, wheeze, and unknown long-term effects.

If you vape, a few steps can lower your exposure:

  • Buy from legitimate retailers and avoid products from informal sources.
  • Skip buttery or creamy flavors if the maker can't confirm they're free of diacetyl.
  • Don't add anything to a vape that the manufacturer didn't intend.
  • See a doctor about any lasting cough, wheeze, or shortness of breath.

Switching to another inhaled product, such as an herbal vaporizer, is not a proven safer option. If you want to quit nicotine, FDA-approved quit medications and free coaching at 1-800-QUIT-NOW are good places to start.

For more information on the risks associated with vaping and the potential health concerns, check out our article on vaping health concerns.

Conclusion

Popcorn lung, or bronchiolitis obliterans, is a rare and incurable lung disease caused by breathing flavoring chemicals like diacetyl at work.

Some e-liquids have contained diacetyl, but the NHS says vaping does not cause popcorn lung. Vaping still carries other lung risks, and its long-term effects are unknown.

For adult smokers, switching completely to vaping is less harmful than smoking. For everyone else, not vaping is the safest choice.

For more information on the risks of vaping and its potential negative effects, please visit KnowYourVape.com.

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