By Meleah Treadaway

Does vaping cause cancer? The truth is: we don’t fully know. 

What we do know is that e-cigarette aerosol (the vapor you inhale and exhale) contains several cancer-causing chemicals. E-cigarettes haven’t been around long enough to fully establish the connection between vaping and cancer, but studies have found that e cigarette exposure is associated with biomarkers indicative of cancer risk across all demographics. This includes users as young as 12-15 years of age. 

These biomarkers can look like damaged tissues, misshapen proteins, damaged DNA, etcetera. 

What do I mean by “e-cigarette exposure?” Well, firsthand, secondhand, and thirdhand exposure are all associated with risks. Here’s a breakdown with examples:  

* Firsthand: You are inhaling vapor directly from an e-cigarette.  

* Secondhand: Your friend is vaping, and you inhale vapor that they just exhaled.

* Thirdhand: Someone has been vaping indoors in your kitchen. You place your hand on the kitchen counter before immediately reaching into a bowl of fresh grapes with that same hand. You pop a grape in your mouth, transferring those residuals vape chemicals from the counter into your body.  

Here’s another example of thirdhand exposure: You vape indoors. Chemicals from the aerosol settle onto the floor. A baby crawls across your floor before putting his hands in his mouth. He has just transferred cancer causing chemicals into his body. 

Just like tobacco and second-hand smoking – first, second and thirdhand exposure to e-cigarette vapor can increase your risk of cancer. The aerosol from these devices contains Group 1 carcinogens. For reference, tobacco is also a Group 1 carcinogen and is responsible for 26% of all cancer deaths in the U.S. 

Group 1 carcinogens are substances or conditions that have sufficient evidence to cause cancer in the human body. Examples of Group 1 carcinogens found in e-cigarette aerosol are: 

* Formaldehyde – which forms if the propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin in the e-liquid overheats – causes leukemia and several nasopharyngeal cancers; 

* Heavy metals like cadmium and nickel – which are often found in the devices’ heating coils – cause lung, nasal, stomach, prostate and kidney cancers; and

* Acetaldehyde – which forms when propylene glycol and flavoring chemicals composing the e-liquid are heated – causes esophageal, breast, stomach, and several head and neck cancers. 

Other carcinogens found in vape aerosol are acrolein and lead. Acrolein forms when e-liquid is heated and is probably responsible for lung and bladder cancer. Lead is found in many of the heating coils within the vape device and is thought to contribute to lung, stomach, kidney, brain and blood cancers. 

E-cigarettes were originally designed as a “healthier” alternative to smoking tobacco. Vapes were seen as less harmful than traditional cigarettes due to the absence of combustion. However, these devices are still remarkably dangerous, and more and more people who have never smoked cigarettes are using vape devices. It is important to realize that the chemicals found in these devices are incredibly harmful to the human body, and the chemicals found in e-cigarette vapor do cause cancer. 

It does not matter how young or how old you are – being exposed to vape aerosol puts you in danger of inhaling and consuming a variety of toxic, carcinogenic substances.

Meleah Treadaway is a prevention associate for South Central Alabama Mental Health.