Lung harm
“Most regarding with regards to e-cigarettes are the respiratory results,” says Shahab. Relatively than only a innocent, sweet-tasting vapour, the aerosol from e-cigarettes incorporates nicotine, flavourings and poisonous chemical substances. When you inhale these substances into your lungs, “it’s more likely to trigger irritation and irritation, which is the lung’s response to attempt to defend itself”, he explains.
Issues have been raised about “popcorn lung” – a kind of lung illness brought on by a build-up of scar tissue, brought on by publicity to the chemical diacetyl. The New Zealand Ministry of Well being legally limits the quantity of diacetyl permitted in vaping merchandise.
The vapour is free from carbon monoxide and tar – the 2 most dangerous chemical substances in tobacco smoke – however that doesn’t make it danger free. Analysis from Anglia Ruskin College in 2024 confirmed that even nicotine-free vapes improve irritation and the breakdown of blood vessels within the lungs.
“There’s additionally extra indicators of pre-asthmatic signs [like coughing and shortness of breath] in e-cigarette customers who by no means smoked, in comparison with those that don’t use them,” Shahab provides.
Much more regarding are the long-term results. One research from Johns Hopkins College in 2025 discovered that vaping for 5 years elevated the chance of power obstructive pulmonary illness (COPD) 2.2-fold, in comparison with individuals who had by no means vaped. COPD is quite common in people who smoke and docs are beginning to detect it amongst vapers. “It principally signifies that your lung capability decreases over time,” Shahab explains.
“It’s a bit like drowning,” he says. “Your lung doesn’t successfully convert the oxygen from the air into the bloodstream. It’s a really disagreeable illness.”
Greater coronary heart price and blood stress
Vapers usually tend to undergo a coronary heart assault than those that don’t due to the nicotine – the extremely addictive, poisonous substance that’s guilty for the extraordinary cravings. “Nicotine raises coronary heart price, blood stress and likewise [causes] adjustments within the stiffness of the arteries,” Shahab explains.
Analysis means that frequent vaping (not less than 5 instances per week for 3 months) damages blood vessels, and will subsequently improve the chance of heart problems.
In addition to these direct results on the center, individuals who vape have additionally been discovered to be in worse form. A research from Manchester Metropolitan College in July 2026 means that younger vapers have poorer train capability, undergo from worse leg fatigue and have 15% decrease general health in comparison with non-vapers.
Nevertheless, Shahab notes that it’s not clear whether or not vaping is solely guilty for this. “Youths that use e-cigarettes are usually additionally extra more likely to have interaction in dangerous [health] behaviours, comparable to ingesting alcohol earlier.
“Nevertheless, in the event you’re a never-smoker with underlying well being circumstances, comparable to a danger of heart problems, vaping gained’t be good for you.”
Mouth and lung most cancers
Individuals who vape could also be extra more likely to obtain a most cancers prognosis. An intensive paper from scientists on the College of New South Wales Sydney, revealed in March 2026, concludes that e-cigarettes in all probability trigger lung and oral most cancers.
Separate analysis from Seoul Nationwide College in South Korea discovered that people who smoke who gave up cigarettes however continued to vape had been 56% extra more likely to die from lung most cancers than those that went chilly turkey.
This can be all the way down to cancer-causing chemical substances – together with acetaldehyde and formaldehyde – forming as vape liquid is heated. It is also all the way down to the heavy metals in vapes. “Over time, this steel can leach into the e-liquid that then will get into the physique,” Shahab says. “E-cigarettes do ship sure dangerous substances, however it is also by means of physiological results,” comparable to power irritation, he notes.
“That results in issues with tissue and harm restore. That’s one of many attainable pathways [by which] vaping might, over the long run, result in most cancers within the lung and different tissues.
“You’re in all probability extra more likely to develop some type of most cancers afterward in the event you use an e-cigarette however the incidence price goes to be a lot decrease than with people who smoke, who’re 15 to 30 instances extra more likely to get lung most cancers than non-smokers.”
Despair and suicide
Anxiousness, despair and even suicide have been linked to vaping. “The impression on psychological well being and stress may be very actual,” Shahab says. One 2025 paper from the College of Bristol discovered a hyperlink between smoking cigarettes and a 13% improve within the danger of affected by despair. Vapers are greater than twice as more likely to try to take their very own lives, one other paper discovered.
“That implies that nicotine itself could possibly be related to poorer psychological well being,” says Shahab. “It stands to motive, if you’re someone who makes use of nicotine, then you definately depend upon it. Each time you cease utilizing it, your physique craves it. Attempting to fulfill cravings creates a stress cycle that in all probability isn’t good in your psychological well being.”
Meningitis and glandular fever
When meningitis unfold by means of Kent in March, the UK Well being Safety Company warned that college students sharing vapes could possibly be one of many ways in which lethal micro organism was spreading.
“There’s a potential danger from sharing units,” Shahab says. “With cigarettes, folks don’t are inclined to share them. You employ it your self, smoke it and throw it away. You’re extra more likely to share an e-cigarette. That has been linked to the transmission of pathogens by means of saliva and respiratory secretions left behind on the drip ideas.”
In concept, this might gas the unfold of viruses and micro organism. “It might result in glandular fever being handed round, for example. Something that’s micro organism could possibly be handed on, like meningococcal micro organism.”
Injury limitation: We have to make vaping uncool
No person ought to begin vaping in the event that they don’t smoke, Shahab warns. “It ought to solely be a way to wean your self off of a cigarette habit.
“E-cigarettes are a lot much less dangerous than tobacco however they do confer elevated danger in comparison with not utilizing something. Keep away from it in the event you’re not a cigarette smoker aiming to stop.”
Ideally, he provides, vaping must be made to look uncool to younger folks as soon as extra. “Initially, e-cigarettes had been designed for ex-smokers, and vapes had been fairly boring and uninteresting. Younger folks would see their father or grandfather vaping away, in order that wouldn’t encourage them to attempt them.
“The perfect coverage would make e-cigarettes unattractive to younger folks once more, whereas not making them unavailable to present people who smoke who want them. We have to deliver again vaping charges to 2015 ranges,” he provides.
