VAPING BAD
E-cigarettes could ‘increase your risk of cancer by damaging your DNA’, experts warn
Four of the five e-cigarette users showed greater DNA damage related to toxic chemicals in e-cigarettes
TOXIC chemicals in e-cigarettes damage DNA in the mouth and may increase the risk of cancer, a study suggests.
Researchers looked for cancer-causing substances in saliva taken from five vapers before and after a 15-minute session.
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They also assessed DNA damage in the cells of the volunteers’ mouths.
They identified three DNA-damaging compounds, formaldehyde, acrolein and methylglyoxal, whose levels increased after vaping.
Four of the five e-cigarette users showed greater DNA damage related to acrolein exposure.
Cancer could develop if the cells do not repair the damage, boffins from the University of Minnesota warn.
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The findings come after MPs on the Commons Science Committee last week called for rules on vaping to be relaxed.
Their report said e-cigs should be prescribed on the NHS and people should be allowed to use them in public places.
Public Health England has previously claimed that e-cig are “95 per cent safer” than smoking and could help people quit.
But critics warn vaping may be a gateway to smoking for youngsters and research has linked the habit to lung diseases.
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Dr Silvia Balbo, who led the latest study, said: It’s clear that more carcinogens arise from the combustion of tobacco in regular cigarettes than from the vapour of e-cigarettes.
“However, we don't really know the impact of inhaling the combination of compounds produced by this device.
“Just because the threats are different doesn't mean that e-cigarettes are completely safe.
“We still don't know exactly what these e-cig devices are doing and what kinds of effects they may have on health, but our findings suggest that a closer look is warranted.”
Dr Romel Dator, who also worked on the study, said: “E-cigarettes are a popular trend, but the long-term health effects are unknown.
“We want to characterise the chemicals that vapers are exposed to, as well as any DNA damage they may cause.”
MORE ON E-CIGARETTES
They researchers plan to follow up this preliminary study with a larger one involving more e-cigarette users and non-users.
They also want to see how the level of DNA damage differs between e-cigarette users and regular cigarette smokers.
Some 7.4million Brits smoke and 2.8million use e-cigs, Office for National Statistics figures show.
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston.
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