E-cigarettes with heating elements can cause 'significant' lung damage, study warns

A young woman vaping. (Courtesy/Shutterstock)

They’re often portrayed as healthier alternatives to cigarettes, but a new study suggests that e-cigarettes may not be as safe as they seem. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, have warned that e-cigarettes with heating elements can cause ‘significant’ damage to the lungs. In the study, the researchers carried out a large-scale study to explore the effects of e-cigarette and other vaping produces on the cardiovascular system.

While conducting experiments, the researchers found that people who used e-cigarettes with nickel-chromium alloy heating elements experienced lung injury. Dr Robert Kloner, senior author of the study, said: “The results were so impactful, we felt it imperative to release the initial findings early so that electronic cigarette users could be cautioned sooner, especially considering E-cigarette users are at increased risk of COVID-19.”