Think how many chemicals we put into our body on a daily basis. From the stuff in processed foods to the fumes in the air, the last think we need is to pump ourselves full of toxins from alcohol and smoking, and yet, here we are. Even though some might bill vaping as a 'better' alternative to smoking, it's true that we're only just learning what the side effects of puffing away really are. More than this, vaping's relatively recent arrival on the scene means we don't know the long-term effects of what damage it's causing to our body.
Now, one scientist is showing off a scan of 'popcorn lung,' which is a nasty affliction that some link to vaping.
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With vaping particularly popular among younger people, doctors are trying to warn us about the dangers. If a look at popcorn lung doesn't put you off, nothing will.
Popcorn lung is the casual name for the condition known as bronchiolitis obliterans. It's a rare form of disease that inflames and scars the smallest airways in your lunch, known as bronchioles.
Inflamed airways means the bronchioles can't expel carbon dioxide, and with it causing a potentially fatal build up, it's something we need to be aware of. The name popcorn lung comes from the disease being discovered at a microwaveable popcorn plant where workers had been inhaling a chemical used to produce the snack.
Dr Max Gomez explained the link to CBS, showing off an X-ray of a popcorn lung-afflicted set of lungs. Gomez says a 17-year-old boy was admitted to hospital in Canada, and while it started as a 'bad cough', he ended up on life support.
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It's important to note that popcorn lung can't just be caused by vaping, but instead, it's a specific chemical used in some vapes. Although diacetyl has been banned in the production of vapes in the European Union since 2016, it's found in some flavored vapes due to its ability to create flavors like cotton candy and blue raspberry. Diacetyl isn't deadly when consumed, however, it can be linked to popcorn lung when inhaled. Back in 2015, a Harvard study found that 39% of 51 e-cigarette brands contained diacetyl, while 92% of the vapes tested contained diacetyl or the harmful chemicals of 2,3 pentanedione and acetoin.
The American Lung Association lists popcorn lung as 'a dangerous risk of flavoured e-cigarettes', while the vaping industry is pushing back and claims that vaping-related injuries should be attributed to black market sales and not general suppliers. Given that we've seen how addictive vaping can be, it's no surprise that the chemicals inside and fruity flavors are linked to this. While popcorn lung likely isn't an issue in countries where diacetyl has been removed from vapes, it's still something you should keep in mind before your next puff.