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 per cent 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 may be all the way down to the heavy metals in vapes. “Over time, this metallic can leach into the e-liquid that then will get into the physique,” Prof Shahab says. “E-cigarettes do ship sure dangerous substances, nevertheless it may be via physiological results,” akin to continual irritation, he notes.
“That results in issues with tissue and damage 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 in a while for those who use an e-cigarette however the incidence charge goes to be a lot decrease than with people who smoke, who’re 15 to 30 occasions extra more likely to get lung most cancers than non-smokers.”
Despair and suicide
Nervousness, melancholy and even suicide have been linked to vaping. “The impact on mental health and stress may be very actual,” Prof Shahab says. One 2025 paper from the College of Bristol discovered a hyperlink between smoking cigarettes and a 13 per cent enhance within the threat of affected by melancholy. Vapers are greater than twice as more likely to try to take their very own lives, one other paper discovered.
“That means that nicotine itself might be related to poorer psychological well being,” says Prof Shahab. “It stands to cause, if you’re someone who makes use of nicotine, then you definitely rely on 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 on your psychological well being.”
Meningitis and glandular fever
When meningitis unfold via Kent in March, the UK Well being Safety Company warned that college students sharing vapes might be one of many ways in which lethal micro organism was spreading.
