London researchers find vaping can alter an important part of the lung

A new study published by researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry highlights potential adverse effects associated with vaping.

The part of the lung that may be negatively affected is known as pulmonary surfactant, which is a critical layer that allows people to breathe with minimal effort by reducing surface tension and stabilizing the lung.

Without surfactant, it would take more effort to breathe, and a person would need mechanical help to do so.

"We were interested in what happens to vapour when it comes into contact with this effective system," said Dr. Ruud Veldhuizen, a Lawson scientist and professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. "Does it impact its function of stabilizing our lungs?"

Veldhuizen says the hospitalization and near-death of a London teen in 2019, which, at the time, was attributed to vaping, was the incident that piqued his interest and spurred him to pursue this research. The teen was put on life-support in September of that year but eventually recovered.

Dr. Chris Mackie, who was the Medical Officer of Health at the Middlesex-London Health Unit at the time, said regardless of brand, vaping is dangerous, despite demands from vaping industry insiders that the brand of the product be released.

The research, which was published in the PLOS ONE Journal, was done by placing a film of surfactant inside a syringe, then using a vaping device to push aerosol into the syringe. This allowed the vapour to interact directly with the surfactant.

The researchers then mimicked inhaling and exhaling vapour into the syringe 30 times to resemble a standard vaping session. This started with a basic form of e-liquid, the liquid that is heated to then be inhaled while vaping, which had noticeable effects on the surfactant, according to Veldhuizen.

"E-cigarette liquid that gets aerosolized will probably mix in with our surfactant and can inhibit it through that mechanism," he said, adding that likely isn't the only potential issue. "Reactive chemicals that are produced may make modifications to the molecules of surfactants that directly interfere with its function."

The team also examined different types of vaping devices, flavours, additives and nicotine. They saw some flavourings, like menthol e-liquid, had worse effects on the surfactant.

"We would like to get this information out there so that people know vaping may be damaging to the lungs," said Veldhuizen. "As a next step, we hope to further investigate the effects of vaping on the lungs and how we can treat resulting injury."