(Image source from: e-cigarettes actually damage cells to cause cancer})
Electronic cigarettes are marketed as safer alternative to conventional tobacco cigarettes. But researchers reveal that e-cigarettes actually damage cells in such a way that they eventually lad up in cancer. New research suggests that even the e-cigarettes’ nicotine-free versions have the potential to make human cells cancerous.
Professor of pathology at University of California, San Diego, U.S., Jessica Wang-Rodriquez, researchers’ lead said, “Based on the evidence to date, I believe they are no better than smoking regular cigarettes. Our study strongly suggests that electronic cigarettes are not as safe as their marketing makes them appear to the public.”
An extract was created from the research team to prepare the vapor of two popular e-cigarette brands. The vapor was used to treat human cells in Petri dishes. When compared to untreated cells, treated cells likely showed DNA damage and died. Normal epithelial cells were used by the team in the main part of the experiment. Epithelial cells were taken from line organs, glands, and cavities, including the mouth and lungs.
Two types of each e-cigarette were tested by scientists, one of which is Nicotine version, the other one is nicotine-free version. Nicotine makes smoking addictive, and can damage cells. It was identified by the team that the worse damage is done by the nicotine versions, while the nicotine-free vapour was sufficient to alter cells.
Ms. Wang-Rodriguez said, “There must be other components in the e-cigarettes that are doing this damage. So we may be identifying other carcinogenic components that are previously undescribed.” Now the team is trying to sort out other substances as well as their specific effects.
-Sumana
