Scientists at the American University Keck School of Medicine found that DNA damage from vaping is comparable in effect to traditional cigarettes. The results of the study are published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

In the process, epithelial cells obtained from the mouths of vapers, smokers, and non-smokers were analyzed. A total of 72 healthy adults took part in the work, who were divided into three groups according to age, race and sex. Biochemical analyzes were taken from each of the subjects, and they were also asked to fill out detailed questionnaires. In the case of e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes, special attention was paid to how often and for how long the participants used them, which devices and flavors they used.

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It turned out that vapers and regular smokers had 2.6 and 2.2 times more DNA damage than non-smokers, respectively. The highest rate of violations was for vapers who used pods, followed by those who used mods. Sweet-tasting vapes were associated with the most DNA damage, with mint or menthol flavors slightly less so, as well as fruits. Moreover, the more users of electronic cigarettes used them, the more DNA damage occurred in their cells of the oral cavity. The authors note that smokers have a similar situation.

DNA damage in oral epithelial cells is an early change that has been linked to an increased risk of many types of chronic disease, including cancer and inflammation.