this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2024
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Research identifies protein responsible for increasing inflammation and oxidative stress

A new study has identified a protein that nicotine-free vape fluid increases in the lung, causing damage including oxidative stress, inflammation and breakdown of the blood vessels.

The research, published in the journal Microvascular Research demonstrates a range of damaging pathways when an in vitro model of the human lung was exposed to a common brand of nicotine-free e-cigarette.

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular in recent years and are often seen as harmless alternatives to cigarette smoking. It is estimated that there are almost five million ‘vapers’ in the UK, compared to around 700,000 in 2012.

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[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 28 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Harm more, or less than cigs? Cause cancer? These studies need to be more specific about which is worse.

[–] svdasein@lemmy.world 30 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It is honestly really frustrating to see the issue of relative harm just get flat out ignored. "Vaping is bad" - you never see it compared in any sensible way to alcohol, cigarettes, formaldehyde from carpets - what have you (all of which are more or less bad). "Even drinking water can harm the body" is about as useful a statement. This is so tiresome - we're not children.

[–] norbert@kbin.social 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

They can be used to quit smoking cigarettes completely and then you can ween yourself off the vape a little easier (ymmv).

So even if vapes were worse than cigarettes (surely they're not), in the long run it'd still be better for you if you were trying to quit.

[–] svdasein@lemmy.world 10 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Right! I smoked for over 30 years. I started vaping about 12 years ago. Prior to that I tried quitting numerous times - patches, lozenges, pills - none really lasted. Vaping works and it sure as hell is less harmful than the cocktail you get from old-school cigs.

[–] Whirlgirl9@kbin.social 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

are you me? i also quit smoking using vape. I smoked for 3 decades and finally quit smoking/vaping about 8 years ago with the help of stepping down the nicotine until i got to zero...thank goodness. Congrats on your hard fought victory svdasein.

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 14 points 2 years ago (1 children)

These studies are probably funded by cigarette companies and governments to push people away from vapes and back to cigarettes

[–] JJROKCZ@lemmy.world 18 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yea anything other that clean air like you find deep in the forests and prairies is bad for your lungs. Hardly news. Anything is better than American cigarettes though

[–] pbbananaman@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Just the American ones though, right? 🤣

[–] JJROKCZ@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

Many nation’s cigarettes are just tobacco in paper, not nearly as bad as American companies putting literal rat poison and formaldehyde in the mixture

[–] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 6 points 2 years ago

Sherlock no shit

[–] verdantbanana@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

the nicotine found in most vapes now days are the newer synthetic variety

after talking to the lab responsible we were told the main difference between synthetic and real is that the synthetic does not cause cancer

another difference is the real nicotine derived from the tobacco plant is usually sourced from India just like your kitchen spices like vanilla and is prone to contamination from ground pollution like heavy metals

synthetic nicotine solves several problems including reducing the strain on the planet by using less resources than required for growing large crops of tobacco

combine that with green chemistry which uses no heavy metals for a catalyst and you have a clean product

now onto flavorings

some such as isoamyl acetate for banana flavor are not very harmful to vape and is even used to test breathing equipment

extensive studies some on a global scale have been done to show the varying degrees of toxicity to nontoxicity on the various flavors

some flavorings are also good on the environment not only because of green chemistry but also with the newer technologies of reclaiming atoms and molecules from food waste

there is lab on the east coast of the US doing just that and making chemicals some for flavoring such as isoamyl acetate which has multiple applications

articles like this are deadest on turning back the clock on good science and good health