Nicotine-containing vapes likely to cause cancer—study
A new Australian study has found that nicotine-containing vapes may lead to lung and oral cancers.
Led by researchers from the University of New South Wales, the new review has found, "by far the strongest evidence," that vapes with nicotine can cause cancer, according to lead author and cancer researcher Bernard Stewart, per ABC News.
The study analyzed cases from 2017 and 2025, including that of a 19-year-old man with a significant history of vaping who later developed cancer in his oral cavity.
Stewart noted that, so far, the most definitive evidence linking vaping and cancer has been provided by a study where mice exposed to e-cigarette aerosols developed lung cancer. Since it took science 100 years to find evidence that smoking causes cancer, according to Stewart, researchers would need more time to prove the same about vaping, which has been around for only the past two decades.
Although the study focused on vapes containing nicotine, it didn't let nicotine-free vapes off the hook.
According to Alexander Larcombe, senior research fellow at Curtin University, vapes labelled as nicotine-free are still not safe to use.
"They still contain a wide range of harmful substances that shouldn't be inhaled," Larcombe said, per ABC News.
"Many of these substances are known to be carcinogenic, irritants, and sensitizers," he added.
These substances include volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde and acrolein, and metals like nickel and chromium.
In its efforts to impose stronger interventions on vape use in Australia, the federal government has put in place laws that restrict the sale and supply of vapes.
According to a National Nutrition Survey conducted in 2023, the Department of Health reported an increase in adult tobacco and vape use from 19% in 2021 to 24.4% in 2023 in the Philippines.
The first case of vape-related death recorded in the country was in 2024. A 22-year-old athletic man in Laguna with no history of smoking or comorbidities died of a heart attack after suffering a lung injury.
"DOH and PGH raise warning on vape as it cites first Filipino death," DOH Usec. Albert Domingo said. "Wala siyang risk factors maliban sa araw-araw siyang nagve-vape for the past two years bago siya atakihin sa puso."
