As vaping continues to gain popularity among young people, health professionals are raising serious concerns about a devastating lung condition quietly affecting e-cigarette users one that may offer no chance of recovery.
While marketed as a cleaner, safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, vaping is now under scrutiny for its potential to cause bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly known as “popcorn lung.” This rare but dangerous disease causes irreversible scarring of the lungs and is drawing alarm from experts who say prevention is the only reliable defence.
The warning comes after a troubling case made headlines earlier this year, when a 17-year-old was diagnosed with the condition after vaping for just three years. The teen’s story, while heartbreaking, has become a symbol of what some say is an unfolding health crisis.
“There’s no cure for popcorn lung. Once the lungs are damaged, treatment is limited to managing symptoms,”
said Professor Donal O’Shea, Professor of Chemistry at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
He explained that the condition was first recognized in workers at a microwave popcorn factory, who developed lung issues after being exposed to diacetyl, a chemical used to create a buttery flavor.
“It causes inflammation and scarring in the bronchioles, making it increasingly difficult for air to move through,”
Professor O’Shea continued.
Today, diacetyl is still found in some flavored vape products, especially those from unregulated or illegal sources, despite being banned in the UK and EU. In places like the US, its presence remains legal in certain products.
And the risks aren’t limited to diacetyl alone.
“There are over 180 different flavoring agents used in e-cigarette products today,”
O’Shea warned.
“When heated, they break down into new compounds that haven’t all been tested for inhalation safety.”
Other toxic substances, including formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, have also been found in vape aerosols and are known to damage the lungs. Because of the complexity and number of chemicals involved, it’s difficult to isolate a single culprit in cases of severe lung disease linked to vaping.
“Even if diacetyl isn’t the sole culprit, cumulative exposure to multiple chemicals and their byproducts could increase the risk of popcorn lung and other respiratory conditions,”
Professor O’Shea added.
For Christine Martin, a mother from Nevada, the risks became real when her daughter collapsed during cheerleading practice and was rushed to the hospital.
“She was hiding her vaping habit for years. We had no idea until it was too late,”
Martin revealed.
“Now, her lungs are permanently damaged. She has to use an inhaler just to get through the day.”
Medical professionals note that once popcorn lung develops, treatment options are limited. Management typically includes bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and in extreme cases, lung transplants—but the structural lung damage cannot be undone.
“Prevention not treatment is the only real defence,”
Professor O’Shea emphasized.
With flavored vapes still widely accessible and often appealing to teens, experts are urging parents, educators, and regulators to act now. Many young people remain unaware of the silent but serious damage that can be caused within just a few years of regular vaping.
The message from the medical community is clear: while e-cigarettes may seem harmless, the consequences can be lifelong and for some, tragically permanent.
Feature Image Credit: (CanvaPro)
