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Berry-flavoured vapes: A hidden threat to your lung health
Despite the widespread belief that vaping is a safer option than smoking, some flavours—particularly berry—may provide unanticipated health hazards.
Researchers tested how berry and unflavoured vapes affected the immune cells living in our alveoli (illustrated) by exposing mice to continuous e-cigarette vapour for 10 days. Photo Credit: Getty
Recent studies have uncovered a hidden risk present in several vape flavours. Despite the widespread belief that vaping is a safer option than smoking, some flavours—particularly berry—may provide unanticipated health hazards. These are five important findings from a new study conducted by McGill University that show how lung health can be affected by flavour choices.
Flavour Matters in Vaping Risks
The researchers discovered that vapes with berry flavours have a greater potential to harm lung immune cells than those with other flavours, which lowers the lungs’ capacity to fend against infections.
Immune Impact
Studies on mice revealed that exposure to berry vape reduced alveolar macrophages, which are cells that eliminate dangerous pathogens, weakening the body’s defences.
Flavours vs. Flavourless
Curiously, menthol and flavourless vapes did not exhibit the same detrimental effects as berry flavours, which suggests that some flavour compounds are particularly dangerous.
Possibility of Serious Illness
It appears that some flavours may represent major health hazards because mice exposed to berry-flavored vapes were more susceptible to respiratory illnesses and required more time to recover.
Complexity Increases Risk
The risk increases with the complexity of the flavor’s chemical composition. Numerous additives found in berry flavours have the potential to increase damage.
The bottom line
Selecting vape flavours is more than simply taste; some may potentially impair your lungs’ ability to fight off diseases.
