A study that compared cheek cells from e-cigarette smokers to those from regular cigarette smokers found that both had changes in the DNA of cells in the mouth, according to The Times.
The Risks of E-Cigarettes – Photo Shutterstock
Such DNA changes have been linked to the development of lung cancer in smokers, reports G4Media.
However, the study authors claim that the results do not prove that e-cigarettes cause cancer, but show that “the devices may not be as harmless as first thought“.
The research, published in the journal Cancer Research, establishes a link between e-cigarettes and an increased risk of cancer. This is important because little is known about the long-term harmful effects of e-cigarettes. The debate surrounding e-cigarettes has largely focused on nicotine addiction among young people.
Forbidden to teenagers
A bill to ban teenagers from buying e-cigarettes and crack down on vaping from an early age is being debated in the UK Parliament.
Specifically, the British want to ban electronic cigarettes for those under 15. Moreover, they want to restrict flavors and packaging so that minors are no longer attracted to vaping devices.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the bill would “save thousands of lives and billions of pounds for the NHS” and that he is confident he will succeed in preventing a party rebellion.
That's because some right-wing Conservative MPs, led by former prime minister Liz Truss, have criticized the teen smoking ban as curtailing individual freedom, but UK experts, including Professor Sir Chris Whitty, have disputed that argument.
“Being pro-individual choice should mean being against the deliberate addiction of children, youth and young adults to something that will harm them, potentially fatallyBritish doctors said, according to the Times.
They also recommend the parliamentarians to support the legislative project to stop “blatant marketing of e-cigarettes to children using colors, flavors and packaging“.
“Vaping can help smokers quit smoking. But if you don't smoke, our advice is not to vape“, say the specialists.
Vaping addiction
Promoted as a smoking cessation tool, vaping devices have become widely used by teenagers and young adults, while tobacco industry organizations have downplayed their health risks.
The long-term effects of vaping devices are not known because they have been used for a short time.
The research by scientists at University College London is the first of its kind to investigate how smoking and vaping can change the DNA in cells, in a process known as epigenetics. These changes allow cells to divide more quickly, potentially turning into tumors.
Data from more than 4,000 people were analyzed and the researchers concluded that the cells in the mouth, which are exposed to tobacco smoke and vaping, were changed “substantial“. Changes like this have also been found in the lung cancer tissue of smokers who have developed cancer.
“Although the scientific consensus is that e-cigarettes are safer than smoking tobacco, we cannot assume that their use is completely safe, and it is important to explore their potential long-term risks and links to cancer. We hope that this study can contribute to the formation of a wider discussion on the use of e-cigarettes, especially in people who have never smoked tobacco“, said the author of the study, Dr. Chiara Herzog.
“The changes that are seen in lung cancer tissue can also be measured in cheek cells from smokers who have not (yet) developed cancer. Importantly, our research indicates that e-cigarette users show the same changes, and these devices may not be as harmless as first thought. Long-term studies of e-cigarettes are needed.“, adds the co-author of the study, Professor Martin Widschwendter.
However, research does not show that e-cigarettes cause cancer, experts say.
“This study adds to our understanding of e-cigarettes, but does not show that e-cigarettes cause cancer. Decades of research have proven the link between smoking and cancer, and studies so far have shown that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than smoking and can help people quit smoking.” says Dr Ian Walker, Executive Director for Policy at Cancer Research UK.
But the study suggests that more research is needed to understand what effects vaping devices have on people.
