A recent study has revealed that e-cigarettes containing nicotine may increase the risk of lung and oral cancer, at a time when concerns are growing about their health effects, especially among young people.
The study, led by researchers from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, provided a qualitative assessment of the risks of e-cigarettes, based on a broad analysis of the results of multiple global studies.
The research team was led by Associate Professor Bernard Stewart, with contributions from several Australian universities and hospitals. This multidisciplinary team included experts in epidemiology, pharmacology, thoracic surgery, and public health. The team focused on reviewing scientific evidence from various perspectives, including clinical studies, animal experiments, and laboratory research.
The results showed that the available evidence, despite its different sources, converges on one conclusion: that e-cigarettes are likely to be associated with an increased risk of cancer, even when used in isolation from traditional smoking.
Stewart said that this review is one of the most thorough studies to date in this field, noting that previous focus had been on considering e-cigarettes as a gateway to smoking, without paying enough attention to the possibility that they directly cause cancer.
He explained that the analysis included human biomarkers showing DNA damage and oxidative stress, along with animal experiments demonstrating tumor formation, and laboratory studies revealing cellular damage and disruptions in biological pathways associated with cancer. The researchers also detected carcinogenic compounds in the aerosols emitted by these devices, such as volatile organic compounds and metals produced by heating.
Despite the strength of the indicators, the researchers stressed that their assessment is still qualitative and does not provide an accurate numerical estimate of the size of the risks, emphasizing that determining this requires long-term studies on humans.
In a related context, researchers noted growing concern about the spread of e-cigarettes since their introduction to the market in the first decade of the millennium, when they were marketed as a "less harmful" alternative to traditional smoking and a way to quit. However, their use has expanded rapidly, especially among young people.
The data also showed that many users do not give up traditional smoking, but rather engage in what is known as "dual use," which can significantly increase health risks. Recent epidemiological data indicates that combining the two can increase the risk of lung cancer several times over.
Researchers believe that what is happening today brings to mind the beginnings of dealing with the risks of traditional smoking, which took decades to be recognized, despite the existence of early indicators.
The team warns against repeating the same scenario, stressing that delaying evidence-based decisions could have widespread health consequences, especially given the rapid spread of these products within a relatively short period of time.
The study was published in the journal Carcinogenesis.
