11/29/2025
🚨This lung damage from e-cigarettes is permanent — and entirely preventable.
Flavored e-cigarettes, often marketed with candy-like appeal, may be far more dangerous than they seem.
A recent case involving a U.S. teenager who developed bronchiolitis obliterans—commonly known as “popcorn lung”—after three years of secret va**ng highlights the alarming risks. This irreversible condition scars the lungs' smallest airways, leading to chronic coughing, wheezing, and lifelong breathing difficulties. Once linked to diacetyl exposure in popcorn factories, the disease is now reemerging in connection with the chemicals found in e-cigarette vapors, particularly flavoring agents that become toxic when heated and inhaled.
With more than 180 flavoring chemicals used in e-liquids—many untested for inhalation—experts are sounding the alarm. While these substances may be safe to eat, the body’s natural defenses are bypassed when they are inhaled, potentially delivering toxic compounds directly into the lungs and bloodstream. The case has sparked renewed calls for tighter regulation and greater public awareness, especially among teens. As the va**ng trend continues, the long-term health consequences are becoming tragically clear: inhaling sweet flavors may come at the cost of permanent lung damage.
Source: Greaves, I. (2023). Popcorn lung: How va**ng can cause life-altering damage—and why flavorings are to blame. The Conversation
