Long-term vaping effects still unknown

According to a recent abstract published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), the effects of long-term vaping are still unknown.

The article referenced an Ontario teenager’s brush with death suspected to be caused by e-cigarettes.  The 17-year-old male youth presented with an intractable cough, progressive laboured breathing and general malaise after vaping flavoured e-liquids and tetrahydrocannabinol — one of the many cannabinoids in cannabis. 

The report stated that the teen’s condition resembled the sort of damage that has been referred to as “popcorn lung.”  Bronchiolitis obliterans is a condition where damage to the lung’s smallest airways causes the patient to cough and be short of breath.  It was initially seen in workers at popcorn plants who breathed in the recycled fumes.

The authors of the article underscored the need for further research into all potentially toxic components of e-liquids and tighter regulation of e-cigarettes.

This warning comes at the same time that a recent University of Waterloo study found a 74 per cent increase in vaping among young adults.  The university surveyed 24,000 youths aged 16-19 and determined that the use of e-cigarettes had increased from 2017 to 2018, by 8.4 per cent to 14.6 per cent. 

Find more details about the study through CMAJ.