New Study Suggests Vaping May Cause Cancer As Experts Raise Concerns

A new study has brought forward findings that suggest vaping may carry a strong risk of causing cancer, raising fresh concerns about its safety.

Over the past decade, vaping has grown quickly and has become one of the most common ways people consume nicotine.

Vapes, whether they are rechargeable devices or disposable ones, are often promoted as helpful tools for quitting smoking. At the same time, there have been ongoing warnings about their impact on health. Now, this latest study adds to those concerns by suggesting there is a high chance that vaping could lead to cancer.

The study was carried out by researchers at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. It involved a detailed review of existing research on the effects of nicotine-based e-cigarettes published between 2017 and 2025.

After reviewing the evidence, the researchers found that vaping is not without risk. They pointed out that it can affect a person’s DNA, which may increase the chances of cell changes that are often linked to cancer.

They also found that vaping can harm tissues in the respiratory system. This type of damage may raise the risk of developing lung cancer over time.

Vapes - be it rechargeable or disposable- have often been promoted as some of the best tools for quitting smoking Getty Stock Image

Vaping can also impact the balance of bacteria in the mouth, known as the oral microbiome. This can lead to more inflammation and may increase the risk of oral cancer.

The study also highlighted that people who both smoke cigarettes and use vapes, which includes about half of smokers, face a much higher risk. In fact, they are four times more likely to develop lung cancer compared to those who do not combine the two.

"The research shows vaping is not an alternative to smoking or illicit drugs. It is not an alternative to anything in the context of being safer," said Professor Bernard Stewart, who led the research.

"It's dangerous, and that's the message."

Professor Freddy Sitas, who worked as a co-author on the study, made it clear that e-cigarettes should not be treated as a safe replacement for smoking. He stressed that using both at the same time without control can increase risks even further.

"It took about 100 years for the evidence to be conclusive enough to say that smoking causes lung cancer, and the history of events evolved over time as people became more and more exposed to tobacco," he said. "And we are seeing a similar evolution with e-cigarettes."

His comments reflect a growing concern among researchers that vaping may follow a similar path to smoking in terms of long-term health effects.

The study says of vaping: "It's dangerous, and that's the message" Getty Stock Image

He also pointed out that people need to take action sooner rather than later when it comes to reducing vaping habits. Waiting too long could lead to more serious health outcomes.

"'There is a window of opportunity now to be able to discern these effects and now is the time to be proactive rather than reactive," he said.

Smoking remains the leading cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a serious lung condition that gets worse over time. In the UK, it affects around 1.7 million people and leads to about 30,000 deaths each year.

Unlike traditional cigarettes, vapes do not contain tar or carbon monoxide. However, they still include other harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde. These substances can cause inflammation, increase oxidative stress in the body, and lead to changes in DNA. All of these factors are linked to a higher risk of developing cancer.

While vaping is often seen as a safer option, the growing body of research suggests that it still carries serious health risks that should not be ignored.