If you smoke, then e-cigarettes are better than traditional butts, right? Electronic smoking is considered by many to be healthier than tobacco use. But research is providing more and more evidence that this is not true. A new study has shown just how harmful e-cigarettes actually are.
It is well known that smoking tobacco is associated with enormous health risks. But what about the supposedly healthier alternative? A study from the USA now shows how harmful e-cigarettes can actually be. According to this, the steamers attack the DNA in the mouth – more than normal cigarettes. The type of e-cigarette device, the liquid used and the dosage also play a role.
course of the study
In their study, the researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC (Southern California) examined 72 subjects.1 They divided them into three groups:
- E-cigarette smokers who never use or have never used normal tobacco cigarettes
- Smokers who only use tobacco cigarettes
- Non-smoker (neither tobacco nor vaping)
Using questionnaires, interviews and biochemical tests, the scientists verified the smoking history of the study participants and ensured that they were assigned to the correct group and that possible effects on DNA were directly attributable to the smoking habit. In addition, the research team led by Prof. Ahmad Besaratinia determined how often and for how long the people smoked. In the case of e-cigarettes, it was also recorded which devices and which flavors were used.
In a further step, the researchers analyzed epithelial cells taken from the mouths of tobacco smokers, vapers and non-smokers in order to identify possible damage to the DNA.
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E-cigarettes caused the most damage to DNA
As expected, the research found that both tobacco and e-cigarette smokers had more significant DNA damage than non-smokers. However, there was also a difference, albeit a small one, between tobacco smokers and those who vaped. E-cigarette users showed 2.6 times more DNA damage than non-smokers, while tobacco smokers had 2.2 times more DNA damage than non-smokers.2
The type of e-cigarette and liquid play a role
As for devices, vapers using pods showed the most DNA damage, followed by those using mods. Pod systems are those that consist of a battery mod and a pod. This is a kind of cartridge above the mod, into which the desired liquid is filled. Mod, on the other hand, is initially purely for the battery carrier. However, most of them can be combined with tanks into which the liquid is filled.3
The liquid that vapers preferred also played a role. According to the study, flavored liquids (sweet, fruity and mint flavors were examined) caused the greatest damage to the DNA.
Last, but not least, frequency, duration and dosage also had an impact on the extent of the harmful effects of smoking. The more frequently and more tobacco or liquid was smoked or vaped, the greater the negative effect on the DNA.
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Consequences of the identified DNA damage
The DNA damage that smoking and vaping causes to the oral epithelial cells lining the mouth is of concern because these early changes are linked to an increased risk of many types of chronic diseases, including inflammatory diseases and cancer.
Further studies planned
Prof. Besaratinia and his team now want to find out exactly what the connection is between the DNA damage mentioned and chronic diseases in further studies. In addition, the result of the current study with 72 subjects is to be confirmed in a larger study involving more participants.