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IIn 2007, California health officials revealed that many workers in local flavoring plants were suffering from obliterating broncholitis called bronchiolitis obliterans, later dubbed "popcorn lungs". This disease, which damages the air sacs of the lungs and causes difficult, comes from exposure to diacetyl, a yellow chemical used to give the microwave popcorn its buttery taste. This chemical is at the center of a new study that reveals it is also harmful in vape liquids.
Why do e-cigs users not receive the same warnings?
Although these chemicals are considered safe ingredients for ingesting food, the history of diacetyl strongly suggests that it is not safe to inhale, especially in the form of steam. Aromatization plant workers now receive warnings about the dangers of inhaling flavoring chemicals, said lead co-author Joseph Allen, Ph.D .: "Why do e-cigs users not receive the same warnings? "
Allen and another lead co-author, Quan Lu, Ph.D., led a team that investigated the effects of these chemicals on the human lung. Rather than experimenting on humans, they used normal human bronchial epithelial cells – those that line the lung – in a system closely mimicking the airways of a living human being.
They found that the exposure of their artificial airways to chemicals for 24 hours significantly decreased the usual number of eyelashes in the lungs, protrusions in the form of fingers that protrude from the surface of lung cells to sweep away mucus and other dirt from the mouth lung. Cilia, who can also be damaged by smoking, are often considered as the first line of defense of the lung against large irritating particles, which can be aspirated. Normally, 50 to 75% of the cells lining the airways have eyelashes.
By looking more closely at the genomes of these cells exposed to chemicals, the team found that 163 genes were regulated differently after exposure to diacetyl; Same for 568 genes after exposure to 2,3-pentanedione. The team concludes that exposure to these chemicals via electronic cigarettes for only 24 hours alters the genes of the airway cells, affecting their ability to remove particles.
The vaping industry itself complicates research and has conducted its own studies on the usefulness of vapor aromas to quit smoking.
The biggest concern with the growing popularity of vaping is that science simply can not keep up. Scientists must conduct studies to determine whether vaping is addictive, is an "entry drug" and has long-term effects, but between its introduction into society and its incredibly enthusiastic adoption, it has not had enough time to find out.
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