E-cigarettes are used as a substitute for traditional cigarettes by many people, but the scientific community is controversial about its health risks. A new study in the UK believes that e-cigarette vapor can damage lung immune cells, and the risk of e-cigarettes may be greater than previously thought.
In the laboratory, the researchers simulated the exposure of vapors produced by the heating of electronic cigarettes to alveolar macrophages from healthy non-smokers. Alveolar macrophages are immune cells that phagocytose and remove dust, bacteria and allergens. According to Pro-inflammatory effects of e-cigarette vapour condensate on human alveolar macrophages published on Thorax, e-cigarette vapor damages the function of alveolar macrophages. Researchers believe that this suggests that the dangers of e-cigarettes may be greater than previously thought.
However, the debate surrounding e-cigarettes is still difficult to determine. Previously, British researchers believed that e-cigarettes were less harmful to the body than traditional cigarettes. In addition, the attitudes of the regulatory authorities in different countries are also different. The United Kingdom has approved the sale of some e-cigarette products as cessation aids, but the US has adopted a cautious attitude, especially in the use of e-cigarettes by young people.