A comprehensive scientific study conducted in Australia has revealed alarming findings about e-cigarettes, warning that vaping may be linked to lung and oral cancer.
Experts have emphasized the need for immediate precautionary measures rather than waiting for definitive and long term evidence.
The study was conducted under the supervision of scientists at the University of New South Wales, reviewing various scientific reports, human case studies, laboratory experiments, and animal research published between 2017 and 2025. The aim of the study was to determine whether nicotine containing e-cigarettes can cause cancer.
According to the findings, vaping produces early biological effects in the body that are strongly associated with cancer, including DNA damage and increased inflammation. The research was published in the scientific journal Carcinogenesis journal, which highlighted that vaping is linked to dangerous pre cancerous changes.
Experts stated that inhaling e-cigarette vapors leads to significant changes in the cells of the mouth and lungs. Although e-cigarettes are relatively new and long term human data remains limited, some cases have emerged in which individuals who only used vaping products were diagnosed with oral cancer, despite not smoking traditional cigarettes.
Similarly, animal studies have shown that mice exposed to e-cigarette vapors developed more lung tumors, although experts noted that these results cannot be directly applied to humans.
The study’s lead author Freddy Sitas said that the perception of vaping as a completely safe alternative is incorrect. He noted that it took decades to acknowledge the harms of cigarettes, and ignoring early warning signs about vaping could prove dangerous.
Experts have urged governments and health authorities to take strict measures, particularly to protect young people from the growing trend of vaping. However, some experts also stated that based on current research, it may be premature to consider vaping as equally harmful as traditional smoking, as it does not involve combustion related chemicals.
Overall, the study indicates that considering vaping as harmless may be a misconception, and its potential risks need to be taken seriously.
