Study:
E-cigarettes damage healthy cells
Julie Wolfe, WXIA8:16 a.m. CST December 26, 2014
(Photo: National Jewish Health)
ATLANTA -- More than 40 million Americans have
used e-cigarettes, but a new study shows the liquid inside damages healthy
cells and increases your risk of respiratory infections.
Researchers at National Jewish Health in Denver tested
the liquid used in e-cigarettes, sometimes called e-liquid. They found the
liquid quickly damaged healthy cells. Doctor Hong Wei Chu led the study. His
team put cells from the airways of healthy, young, non-smokers in one end of a
device and an e-cigarette in the other.
"It increased the level of viral
infection inside the cells," Chu said. In fact, they found after just ten
minutes of exposure, the cells were damaged. That damaged lasted 24 hours or
longer. The study showed it didn't matter if the liquid contained nicotine or
not, the liquid itself did the damage.
Researchers say the findings are especially
troubling since some e-cigarettes are flavored to appeal to younger users. "When
you flavor them that way, not only are they appealing, but, falsely, the user
sees them as 'Oh, no big deal. They're not bad for me.'"
Over the next week, millions of Americans will make New Year's
Resolutions to quit smoking. Many will turn to e-cigarettes as a method to
help. Over the last year, as sales topped $3.5 million, concerns about safety
are also on the rise. In July, the World Health Organization found there was
not enough evidence to determine if electronic cigarettes really help people
quit smoking. The World Lung Foundation is recommending tighter regulation of
e-cigarettes due to those growing concerns.
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