According to studies, electronic cigarettes are now being used by over 10% of American teenagers and more than 3% of adults. They were previously advertised as a healthier substitute for tobacco cigarettes. However, recent research has established a connection between vaping, or e-cigarette use, and the same deadly illnesses that afflict smokers.
Vaping leads to DNA damage in the mouth
A team of scientists from the Keck School of Medicine of USC conducted a pioneering investigation into epithelial cells extracted from the oral cavities of non-users, smokers, and vapers. Their research demonstrated that smokers and vapers displayed comparable amounts of DNA harm, which surpassed the levels observed in non-users by over two times. The study found that the extent of DNA damage was more pronounced in individuals who smoked or vaped frequently. Furthermore, DNA damage was more substantial in vapers who employed vape mods and pods and also consumed sweet, mint, or fruit-flavored e-cigarettes.
According to Ahmad Besaratinia, professor of research population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine and the senior author of the study, it was demonstrated for the first time that an increase in e-cigarette use and duration of use was linked to a rise in DNA damage in oral cells. This trend was also observed in smokers.
Buccal epithelial cell lining susceptible to DNA damage
The oral epithelial cells lining the mouth are susceptible to DNA damage, which is an initial alteration associated with elevated chances of chronic diseases like cancer and inflammatory disorders. A recent study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research successfully differentiated the DNA damage caused by exclusive vaping and smoking. Additionally, the research highlights the risks associated with vaping frequency, choice of device, and flavor. Due to the smoking history or dual usage of vape and tobacco cigarettes, studying vapers is challenging.
Besaratinia said that they designed the study to tease out vaping effects in e-cigarette users that were neither dual users nor cigarette smokers at any point. He added that the flavors and devices that are popular among youths have the most serious DNA damage.
