Flavored e-cigarettes can case cause lung damage: Experts

By Staff Reporter
U.S. teen developed “popcorn lung” after secretly vaping for 3 years — a permanent, life-altering disease.
Officially known as bronchiolitis obliterans, the condition scars the lungs’ tiniest airways, causing chronic coughing, wheezing, fatigue, and breathlessness.
Although once associated with diacetyl exposure in popcorn factories, today’s concern centers on the wide array of chemicals found in e-cigarette vapors. Many of these flavoring agents, while safe to ingest, become toxic when heated and inhaled — delivering direct harm to the lungs and bloodstream without the body’s natural filtration defenses.
The rise of vaping, particularly among young people drawn to fruity and candy-like flavors, has created a dangerous new health frontier. With over 180 flavoring agents used in e-cigarette liquids — some breaking down into untested or harmful compounds when heated — experts say regulatory action is urgently needed. The teen’s devastating diagnosis serves as a stark reminder that inhaled chemicals once deemed harmless in food can have catastrophic effects when vaped, underscoring the need for stricter controls and public awareness to prevent irreversible damage.