a new study has found that a single session of vaping significantly increases the level of cellular oxidative stress and creates an internal environment that, over time, can lead to a range of illnesses, including cancer.
the research,
published in jama pediatrics
, found that just 30 minutes of vaping can produce an imbalance between free radicals (molecules that damage cells) and antioxidants (compounds that inhibit free radicals) that elevates cellular oxidative stress. “over time, this imbalance can play a significant role in causing certain illnesses, including cardiovascular, pulmonary and neurological diseases, as well as cancer,”
said holly middlekauff
, senior author of the study and a professor of cardiology and physiology at the david geffen school of medicine at ucla.
e-cigarettes, or vape pens, are commonly viewed as a safer way to consume nicotine, but the devices — which deliver the stimulant and other chemicals in vapour form instead of smoke — are tied to detrimental developments in the body that foreshadow serious health issues.
to test the effects of a single session of vaping, researchers recruited 32 men and women, between the ages of 21 and 33, and split them into three groups: non-smokers (11), regular tobacco smokers (9) and e-cigarette smokers (12). the team measured oxidative stress by collecting immune cells before and after the three groups engaged in a 30-minute period of vaping. they also used a control session where participants were required to spend the same amount of time “sham-vaping” — a process that involved sucking on an empty straw.