In a groundbreaking discovery, a new study has revealed that nicotine-free vape fluids can still harm the lungs.
Researchers have identified a specific protein, ARF6, that increases in the lung due to vaping, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, and damage to blood vessels.
Published in the journal Microvascular Research, this study exposes the potential dangers of using nicotine-free e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes have gained immense popularity, seen as a safer alternative to traditional smoking. In the UK alone, the number of vapers has soared from around 700,000 in 2012 to nearly five million.
Most of the focus has been on the harmful effects of nicotine in vapes, leading to a ban on nicotine-containing e-cigarettes in 39 countries. This ban has resulted in a rise in the use of nicotine-free vapes, especially among young people.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University’s Biomedical Science Research group conducted the study.
They experimented with three watermelon-flavored vapes, bought online, with different nicotine concentrations: 0mg, 10mg, and 20mg per 2ml solution. These concentrations mimic those commonly used.
The study found that even nicotine-free vape fluid can cause significant damage to lung cells. This includes oxidative stress, increased inflammation, and a breakdown of blood vessels – similar to the damage seen in lung injuries.
The key finding was the role of ARF6, a protein previously not linked to smoking or lung injury but known to be involved in vascular function. This study shows ARF6 as a crucial factor in regulating the microvasculature of the lungs.
Dr. Havovi Chichger, the lead author and Associate Professor of Biomedical Science at Anglia Ruskin University, highlighted the importance of this discovery.
She pointed out that vaping, particularly among teenagers, is a significant health concern, and our understanding of its impact is still developing.
She noted that nicotine-free vape fluid shares a similar chemical composition with its nicotine-containing counterpart, minus the nicotine.
Due to the lack of regulation in the market, it’s been challenging to identify which chemical in the vape fluid is most damaging to vascular function.
The study’s findings emphasize that exposure to nicotine-free vape fluid causes similar oxidative and inflammatory effects on human microvascular endothelial cells. ARF6 plays a pivotal role in the vape-induced damage to blood vessels.
This research is a vital step in understanding the health implications of vaping nicotine-free e-cigarettes.
It underscores the need for further investigation to determine the link between vaping, even without nicotine, and the potential development of lung injuries over time.
The discovery challenges the perception of nicotine-free vapes as a harmless alternative and opens new avenues for research into their long-term health effects.
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The research findings can be found in Microvascular Research.
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