A new scientific study suggests that vaping may cause DNA changes similar to those caused by smoking, increasing the risk of cancer. Led by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine in California, the study, the most comprehensive to date, found that young adults who vape have the same genetic mutations in mouth cells as those seen in cigarette smokers.
These cellular changes, when they occur abnormally, can lead to serious illnesses, including cancer. The findings of this research reinforce the urgency of government initiatives to curb the rise in e-cigarette use among young people, which the Royal College of Paediatrics has described as an “epidemic”. Recent data shows that one in ten adults in the UK now vape, or around 5,6 million people, while almost a million minors are thought to have experimented with vaping.
The study adds to a growing body of research demonstrating the health risks associated with e-cigarette use. It was conducted in collaboration with the U.S. National Institutes of Health and examined epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation, in the buccal cells of 30 young people divided into three groups: vapers, smokers and non-nicotine users.
DNA methylation is a normal cellular process, essential for tissue growth and repair. However, when it occurs abnormally, it can cause cellular damage that increases the risk of a variety of diseases, including cancer and heart disease. While it has long been known that smoking alters DNA through this process, scientists have now discovered that vaping may have similar effects. The buccal cells of vapers show a strong correlation with those of smokers when it comes to DNA methylation.
Dr. Stella Tommasi, an associate professor at the Keck School of Medicine, noted that “our findings indicate that the DNA methylation changes observed in vapers may contribute to the development of diseases, including cancer.” She added that while e-cigarettes generally contain fewer toxic substances than cigarette smoke, they are not as harmless as some might believe.
The study, published in theAmerican Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, also highlighted other genetic changes specific to vapers, likely due to the diversity of chemicals present in e-liquids and vapors.
