Just one month of vaping leads to DNA damage similar to smoking tobacco, another damning e-cigarette study suggests.
Researchers at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, exposed mice to 60 puffs of a mango-flavored Juul device daily for four weeks.
The rodents suffered from cellular and molecular changes linked to carcinogenesis in traditional cigarette smokers.
America is currently in the midst of a childhood epidemic attributed to child-friendly fragrances and glittering store windows.
Just one month of vaping causes ‘widespread changes’ in the lungs and increases inflammation, another study suggests (file photo)
At least 2.6 million American children between the ages of 11 and 18 use e-cigarettes, according to official figures, and the number is growing.
In the latest study, scientists exposed mice to air from a Juul device that contained nicotine.
New York health chiefs are urging people to stop vaping
The NY State Department of Health released the appeal just before 2023, saying e-cigarettes are “highly addictive and dangerous” to users and those exposed to passive vapor.
A third of the mice were blasted with 60 juul puffs per day administered in three 20-minute sessions three hours apart.
This should mimic the low usage of the vaping devices, the researchers said.
In a November poll, one in ten teens admitted to vaping within five minutes of waking up – a sign of addiction – while a quarter said they vape daily.
The rest of the mice were exposed to e-liquid used in vapor or just air in the laboratory.
E-liquid – which is used to create vapor – contains propylene glycol, a byproduct of petroleum, and vegetable glycerin, made from vegetable oil.
Research has focused on Juul, but studies show that other brands also have harmful effects on the lungs.
Many vape devices contain e-liquids that contain hundreds of chemicals that can be harmful to the lungs. They also contain nicotine, which can lead to vaping addiction.
After four weeks, the scientists killed the mice and examined their lungs for signs of the effects of Juul machines.
The results showed that mice exposed to e-cigarette vapor had higher levels of white blood cells in their lungs, indicating higher levels of inflammation.
The tests also revealed changes in hundreds of genes in macrophages – another type of white blood cell involved in the immune response to infection or damage.
They said the observed changes indicate an increased risk of vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI).
Symptoms of the condition include shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and hemoptysis – or coughing up blood. In severe cases, it can lead to death.
Thousands of cases have been reported in the US as of 2019, with the condition strongly linked to e-cigarettes.
The researchers concluded: “E-cigarettes are therefore not inactive and can cause significant cellular and molecular changes in the lungs.
Dr. Carolyn Baglole, an experimental medicine expert at McGill University, said: “The health effects of vaping are unknown.
“Our results show that inhaling the vapor produced by a popular brand of e-cigarettes causes widespread changes in the lungs.
“Data further underscore that these products are not inert and can cause lung damage with prolonged use.”
She added, “We show that low-level chronic exposure to aerosols has local immunomodulatory effects, dramatically changing protein and RNA expression at key lung sites.”
DailyMail.com has reached out to Juul for comment.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
