New Report Warns: Vaping Could Cause Incurable “Popcorn Lung” Disease
Chemical flavorings in e-cigarettes linked to rare but irreversible lung damage, particularly dangerous for teens and frequent users.
Watan-A new report has warned that electronic cigarettes may cause an incurable condition known as “popcorn lung.”
According to the science site Science Alert, “popcorn lung” is a disease that causes irreversible obstruction of the small airways (bronchioles). Though rare, it is serious and untreatable, resulting in persistent coughing, wheezing, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
What is Popcorn Lung?
The term dates back to the early 2000s when several workers at a microwave popcorn factory developed lung issues after inhaling a chemical called diacetyl, which gives popcorn its buttery flavor.
Diacetyl is a flavoring compound that becomes toxic when inhaled. It causes inflammation and scarring of the small airways, making it difficult for air to pass through and leading to permanent lung damage.
While diacetyl is the most well-known cause, popcorn lung can also result from inhaling other harmful chemicals—like volatile carbonyls such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde—both of which have also been found in e-cigarette vapor.
Vaping and Popcorn Lung Connection
has grown popular, especially among teenagers and young adults, likely due to the availability of a wide variety of flavors. But these flavors come at a chemical cost—potentially leading to popcorn lung.
Although many of these flavoring agents are approved for food use, they are not safe when inhaled.
When consumed, chemicals are processed through the digestive system and filtered by the liver, reducing their potential harm. However, when inhaled, they bypass this filtration entirely and are absorbed directly into the lungs, and from there into the bloodstream—reaching vital organs like the heart and brain within seconds.
The Science Alert report warned that in e-cigarettes, these chemicals are heated, breaking down into new compounds—some of which have never been tested for inhalation safety, raising significant concerns.
It also noted a multinational study that found teens who use e-cigarettes report far more respiratory issues than non-users. Certain flavors, nicotine salts, and frequent use were linked to these symptoms.
The report concluded that cumulative exposure to many of the chemicals in e-cigarettes may increase the risk of developing popcorn lung and other serious respiratory diseases.
