“Smoke” from e-cigarettes linked to DNA damage and increased health risks

“Smoke” from e-cigarettes has been linked to DNA damage and increased health risks, scientists have warned.

Tests conducted on mice indicated that exposure to e-cigarette smoke (or rather the vapour that the devices produce) could increase the risk of DNA damage, leading to higher risks of cancer and heart disease.

The hotly-debated tobacco replacement products have soared in popularity off the back of claims that they’re far safer than smoking, but with the industry still in its infancy, there are still a number of unknowns when it comes to their overall safety.

The findings from the study reportedly show that e-cigarette smoke can damage the DNA systems that protect against cancer. These damaged cells could be more likely to mutate or suffer triggers that can cause tumours, leaving users at an increased risk of lung and bladder cancers in particular.

The result is that the scientists say that e-cigarette smoke is carcinogenic, and that users must not assume that they are safe.

Are e-cigs safe?

Numerous reports over exploding e-cig batteries have raised enough concerns over the safety of the products. But, what about the dangers of the vapour vs smoke?

The constant yin and yang over whether e-cigarettes are safe to use goes on. Until substantive studies can confirm the precise long-term health effects, the world remains in a swing period of scientific studies and findings that can often draw contrasting conclusions.

Presently, the assumption is that e-cigarettes simply cannot be assumed as safe, although many studies indicate they remain safer than smoking traditional cigarettes. Some studies, however, also claim that vaping is as just as bad as smoking.

Only time will tell…