As e-cigarette use continues to grow, particularly among young people, the scientific community remains cautious about its long-term health consequences. In New Zealand, researchers are working to fill this knowledge gap, but acknowledge that definitive results will likely not be available for another decade or two.
A silent epidemic among young New Zealanders
The prevalence of vaping among New Zealand adolescents is now nearly three times higher than that observed in Australia, Canada, or the United States. This observation prompted Kelly Burrows, a researcher at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, to focus on this growing phenomenon in 2019. At the time, data showed a decline in traditional tobacco use, but a parallel explosion in the use of vaping devices.
According to her, it took half a century of observation to uncover the harmful effects of smoking. By analogy, it will likely take another ten to twenty years to fully understand the impacts of vaping on human health.
Cutting-edge research focused on the respiratory tract
Over the past six years, Kelly Burrows has conducted multiple studies focused on the lungs and respiratory system. She particularly warns about the oily properties of e-liquids, a fraction of which remains coated in the lungs with each inhalation. This oily accumulation, combined with repeated inflammatory phenomena, could lead to long-term pathologies and tissue degradation.
To further this research, Burrows and his engineering students designed a vaping robot. This innovative machine collects and freezes vapors from e-cigarettes, facilitating their chemical analysis. The results are worrying: each e-liquid contains at least thirty aromatic compounds, the effects of which on human health remain largely unknown. Worse still, tests revealed the presence of heavy metals in the inhaled aerosols, a contamination resulting from metal coils subjected to high temperatures.
Cellular impacts and increased risks of chemical absorption
Other experiments conducted by Burrows' team involved growing lung cells in the lab and then exposing them to e-cigarette vapors. The results were unequivocal: some cells died, while others experienced structural disintegration or increased permeability. The latter phenomenon could promote the passage of toxic substances into the bloodstream, increasing systemic risks.
Vigilance is more important than ever
Given the current scientific uncertainty, experts emphasize the need for a cautious approach, particularly among young people and those who have never smoked. Long-term studies will be essential for establishing appropriate public health policies and preventing harmful effects that are still invisible today.
