Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
A We A teenager was recently reported to have developed the strangely named medical condition “popcorn lung.” vaping Secretly for three years.
Officially known as bronchiolitis obliterans, popcorn lung is a rare but serious and irreversible disease that causes damage to the small airways. lungsThis causes persistent cough, wheezing, fatigue and shortness of breath.
The term “popcorn lung” was coined in the early 2000s, when several microwave popcorn factory workers developed lung problems after ingesting a chemical called diacetyl – the same ingredient used to give popcorn its rich, buttery flavor.
Diacetyl, or 2,3-butanedione, is a flavoring agent that becomes a toxic inhalant when aerosolized. It causes inflammation and scarring in the bronchioles (the smallest branches of the lungs), making it difficult for air to pass through. The result: permanent, often disabling lung damage.
Diacetyl has been officially banned e cigarette In the EU and UK, but not in the US and other jurisdictions. And illegal vapes that do not comply with regulations are common.
Popcorn lung can also be triggered by the inhalation of other toxic chemicals, including volatile carbonyls like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde – both of which have also been found in e-cigarette vapor.
The scariest part? There is no cure for popcorn lung. Once the lungs are damaged, treatment is limited to managing symptoms only. This may include bronchodilators, steroids, and in extreme cases, a lung transplant. For this reason, prevention – not cure – is the best and only defense.
And yet, for young vapers, prevention is not so straightforward.
Weeping net
Vaping is especially popular among teens and young adults, likely due to the thousands of flavored vape products available – from bubblegum to cotton candy to Mango Ice. But those fruity, candy-like flavors come with a chemical cost.
E-liquids may contain nicotine, but they also contain a chemical cocktail designed to hook users. Many of these flavor enhancing agents are approved for use in food. This does not mean that they are safe to breathe.
Here’s why it matters: When chemicals are eaten, they pass through the digestive tract and are processed by the liver before entering the bloodstream. That travel minimizes their potential losses. But when chemicals are inhaled, they bypass this filtration system completely. They go straight to the lungs – and from there, straight into the bloodstream, reaching vital organs like the heart and brain in a matter of seconds.
This is what made the original Popcorn Factory cases so tragic. Eating butter-flavored popcorn? Absolutely right. Breathing in a chemical like butter? Destructive.
Chemical Complexity of Vaping
About the authors
Donal O’Shea is Professor of Chemistry at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Gerry McElveney is Professor of Medicine at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
This article is republished from Conversation Under Creative Commons license. read the original article,
The situation with vaping is even more ambiguous. Diacetyl is not found in all vapes, but its alternatives – acetoin and 2,3-pentanedione – can be just as harmful.
Experts estimate that more than 180 different flavoring agents are used in e-cigarette products today. When heated, many of these chemicals break down into new compounds – some of which have never been tested for inhalation safety. This is a matter of great concern.
Although the exact risks are not known, cases of popcorn lung associated with vaping are medically documented. Because vapers’ lungs are exposed to so many chemicals, it is not possible to directly prove that diacetyl is the cause of illness in a specific case. But that doesn’t negate the proven risks of inhaling it.
Even though diacetyl is not the sole culprit, cumulative exposure to multiple chemicals and their byproducts can increase the risk of popcorn lung and other respiratory conditions.
This was tragically reflected in the story of an American teenager who contracted the disease. His case is reminiscent of the 2019 EVALI crisis (lung injury associated with e-cigarette or vaping product use), which led to 68 deaths and more than 2,800 hospitalizations in the US. That outbreak was ultimately linked to vitamin E acetate – a thickening agent in some cannabis vape products. When heated it produces a highly toxic gas called ketene.
Recent studies are raising alarm bells about the impact of vaping on the respiratory health of young people. A multi-national study found that teens who vape reported significantly more respiratory symptoms, even when adjusting for smoking status. Certain flavor types, nicotine salts, and frequency of use were all associated with these symptoms.
So what does this all mean?
It is clear that history is repeating itself. Just as workplace safety rules were changed to protect popcorn factory workers, we now need the same regulatory urgency for the vaping industry – especially when it comes to protecting the next generation.
Learning from the past, protecting the future
Popcorn and vaping may seem disparate from each other, but they’re linked by a common thread: inhaling chemicals that were never meant for the lungs. The danger lies not in what these chemicals become when eaten, but in what they become when heated and inhaled.
If we apply the lessons learned from industrial safety to today’s vaping habits – especially among young people – we can avoid repeating the same mistakes. Regulations, clear labeling, strict ingredient testing, and educational campaigns can help reduce the risks.
Until then, stories like the one by the American teen serve as powerful reminders that vaping, despite its fruity flavors and sleek designs, is not without consequences. Sometimes, what seems harmless leaves lifelong damage.
Details of where e-cigarettes containing diacetyl are available and how the two have been scientifically linked have been added to this article.