Dal researchers use novel breathing test to explore whether vaping causes lung damage

People have been turning to vapes and e-cigarettes for years, believing they may be a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes and a way to eventually kick their smoking habit.  

But as the number of consumers using vapes continues to rise around the world, so too do concerns over their safety and the potential long-term effects on users' lungs.

Little is known about how vaping affects the lungs and whether it can cause permanent damage, with recent studies suggesting it can take a toll on the lungs of babies in utero and foster nicotine addiction in youth drawn to the range of flavoured products on offer. 

Researchers at Dalhousie are hoping to fill in some of the gaps about their effects with the use of a novel breathing test that has been shown to detect early lung damage in children with lung disease years before traditional breathing tests. 

They hope to answer the pressing question of whether vaping — which involves inhaling fumes containing thousands of chemicals directly into the lungs — can permanently damage users' lungs. 

"It can take many years before the effects of a harmful exposure can be detected in the lungs using traditional breathing tests — we can’t afford to wait and see if vaping is harmful to the lungs," says Dr. Sanja Stanojevic, an assistant professor in Dal's Department of Community Health and Epidemiology who is leading the study.

An urgent need

Dr. Stanojevic will investigate whether a novel breathing test can identify early lung damage in people who vape. It has been difficult to measure the effects of vaping because traditional breathing tests cannot detect early lung damage and once they do, the harm is often permanent. Dr. Stanojevic and her team will use the novel test to measure how the lungs work in people who vape and those who don't. 

It's estimated that about 14 per cent of people between 15 and 24 in Canada vape regularly. In Nova Scotia, that rate soars to 37 per cent — the highest in the country. 

"We need to know urgently whether young adults who vape are damaging their lungs, and if the damage will predispose them to have breathing problems later in life," says Dr. Stanojevic. 

They are in the process of recruiting people between the ages of 18 and 24 who use pod-type e-cigarettes, such as JUUL products. They will also test people who have never vaped, have no history of lung disease and have not smoked cigarettes.  

Participants will complete a survey and perform two breathing tests. In the first test participants will be asked to breathe normally through a mouthpiece for 10 to 15 breaths. In the second test participants need to take a big breath and blow out as fast as they can. Anyone who takes part in the 40-minute testing will receive a $20 gift card and can find out more at hlungs@dal.ca. 

The researchers say their findings on whether vaping affects the lungs will provide additional information to inform health policy. 

"The results of the study will provide doctors, researchers and the public with needed information about vaping," she says.