Full Answer
What are the chances of getting popcorn lung from vaping?
“There’s no good evidence that e-cigarettes could cause the lung condition called popcorn lung. There’s been no cases of popcorn lung reported in people who use e-cigarettes.” source: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/cancer-controversies/does-vaping-cause-popcorn-lung
Is there a link between popcorn lung and vaping?
Vaping is considered safer than smoking and has fewer of these harmful chemicals so most likely there isn’t a link between popcorn lung and vaping either. Another fact that makes us breathe easier when we vape is that for those exposed to the high levels of inhaled diacetyl in factories, the symptoms showed up fairly quickly, in about two years.
Is it true that vaping can cause popcorn lung?
Popcorn lung from vaping is a MYTH. When it was pointed out in 2015 that some e-liquids contained diacetyl the vaping industry reacted by recalling those products and discontinued the use of diacetyl. Meanwhile, if you smoke cigarettes you are con...
What is popcorn lung and can vaping cause it?
What is Popcorn Lung and Can Vaping Cause It? Posted on July 5, 2019 by Michael Hinck “Popcorn lung” is the nickname for bronchiolitis obliterans, a serious and irreversible lung disease that can damage the smallest airways in your lungs, resulting in coughing and shortness of breath.
What is popcorn lung?
Popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans) is a type of lung disease, but it is not cancer. Although popcorn lung is very rare, some e-cigarette users may worry about it.
Can e-cigarettes cause popcorn lung?
No. There’s no good evidence that e-cigarettes could cause the lung condition called popcorn lung. There’s been no confirmed cases of popcorn lung reported in people who use e -cigarettes. If you're someone who smokes, the best thing you can do for your health is to stop.
Is diacetyl in e-cigarettes?
In the UK, diacetyl was ban ned in e-cigarette liquids under the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) in 2016. So, e-liquids sold in the UK shouldn’t contain diacetyl. E-cigarettes are a relatively new product – they aren’t risk-free and we don’t yet know their long-term impact.
Is vaping better than smoking?
But research so far shows that vaping is less harmful than smoking tobacco, and can help people to stop smoking. For the best chance of quitting, get support from a Stop Smoking Service, who can help you find the right tools for you.
What happens if you inhale diacetyl?
Diacetyl is frequently added to flavored e-liquid to enhance the taste. Inhaling diacetyl causes inflammation and may lead to permanent scarring in the smallest branches of the airways — popcorn lung — which makes breathing difficult. Popcorn lung has no lasting treatment. There are, however, treatments that manage BO symptoms, such as: 1 Coughing 2 Wheezing 3 Chest pain 4 Shortness of breath
What is a vape pen?
With vaping, a device (typically a vape pen or a mod — an enhanced vape pen — that may look like a flash drive) heats up a liquid ( called vape juice or e -liquid) until it turns into a vapor that you inhale. “Vaping is a delivery system similar to a nebulizer, which people with asthma or other lung conditions may be familiar with,” says Broderick. ...
What to do if your lung hurts?
What to Do If Your Lungs Hurt. If you smoke or vape, don’t brush off chest or lung pain as something that’s normal. If you have pain or other symptoms associated with breathing difficulties, such as shortness of breath and chronic cough, it’s important to see a doctor.
What is the condition called when you get sick from eating popcorn?
“Popcorn lung” is another name for bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), a rare condition that results from damage of the lungs’ small airways. BO was originally discovered when popcorn factory workers started getting sick. The culprit was diacetyl, a food additive used to simulate butter flavor in microwave popcorn.
Does diacetyl help with popcorn lung?
Diacetyl is frequently added to flavored e-liquid to enhance the taste. Inhaling diacetyl causes inflammation and may lead to permanent scarring in the smallest branches of the airways — popcorn lung — which makes breathing difficult. Popcorn lung has no lasting treatment. There are, however, treatments that manage BO symptoms, such as:
What is the chemical that can damage your lungs?
Acrolein: Most often used as a weed killer, this chemical can also damage lungs.
What is the food additive used to deepen e-cigarette flavors?
Diacetyl: This food additive, used to deepen e-cigarette flavors, is known to damage small passageways in the lungs.
What are the symptoms of popcorn lung?
It is hard to detect if you have popcorn lung. The symptoms are easy to overlook. It is also easy to mistake it for other lung diseases. Let’s say you have asthma. You’re used to having difficulty breathing. So, if you develop popcorn lung, you might not notice the symptoms because asthma and popcorn lung make you feel the same.
Can I get popcorn lung from vaping?
No, you cannot get popcorn lung from vaping. The myth that you can get popcorn lung from vaping came from the fact that diacetyl, the chemical which is the primary cause of the said condition, was found in e-juice flavorings in the past.
How do you treat popcorn lung?
As of the moment, there is no cure for popcorn lung. There are, however, treatments that can help deal with the symptoms of popcorn lung. These treatments can also help slow down the progress of the said disease.
How can I avoid getting popcorn lung?
The easiest way to avoid popcorn lung is to avoid exposure to the chemicals that cause the disease. If they cannot be avoided, you must limit your exposure as much as you can.
What other popular vaping myths should I be aware of?
Most of us think that nicotine causes cancer. I confess that this is something that I used to believe. And who can blame you if you do? Nicotine is a word associated with smoking. However, nicotine actually carries minimal risk of harm to your health.
What is the best treatment for popcorn lung?
One option is to use corticosteroids. These cortisone-like medicines provide relief for inflamed parts of the body. When you take corticosteroids, they lessen swelling, itching, redness, and allergic reactions. Since popcorn lung results in the inflammation of air passages, relieving the inflammation can help you get more oxygen into your blood. It can also help you breathe easier.
Why do they call it popcorn lung?
The result is a hacking cough and shortness of breath. They call it popcorn lung because it can be caused by breathing in the chemical diacetyl.
Summary
Prolonged exposure to high levels of heated diacetyl in microwave popcorn factories has been linked to the irreversible lung damage known as “popcorn lung”.
Introduction
Based on research involving a small sampling of vaping product, we have been hearing about the potential of vaping to cause “popcorn lung” since December 2015. As this was again featured on Facebook in mid-November 2017, it’s time to separate the facts from the speculation.
Limited Product Testing
This research paper reports that over 7,000 vaping products were on the market in 2015, but the researchers only tested a small sampling – 51 different e-cigarettes manufactured by nine “leading brands” with flavors that the researchers “deemed were appealing to youth.”
The Chemicals Examined
This study looks at the presence of diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione (acetyl propionyl), and acetoin in the 51 fluids tested. Of the 51, 39 contained some level of diacetyl, the chemical responsible for the “popcorn lung” mentioned in most of the headlines. Levels ranged from detectable but too low to measure to 239 µg per e-cigarette.
Popcorn Lung and Buttery Flavoring
Popcorn lung was first found among workers involved in manufacturing microwave popcorn, and it was soon associated with the use of diacetyl and other chemicals used in butter flavoring. Prior to this, diacetyl was generally considered safe for consumption – but it had not been tested as an inhalant.
How Dangerous Are These Chemicals?
Thanks to microwave popcorn, heated diacetyl is now known to cause lung problems when inhaled for an extended period of time. From the research paper:
Sensational Headlines
For better or worse, sensational headlines are a powerful way to get people to click on a link to an article on the internet, which in turn is a great way for a website to display numerous ads in hopes of monetizing the interest in whatever topic it happens to be.
What is popcorn lung?
Popcorn lung is a slang name for a serious condition with the scientific name bronchiolitis obliterans, or obliterative bronchiolitis. Sometimes the name is abbreviated as BO, and it is occasionally called constrictive bronchiolitis.
What is diacetyl?
Diacetyl is an organic compound that occurs naturally in fermented products like alcoholic drinks and in cultured milk products. It’s also found naturally in some fruits and tobacco. Diacetyl is widely used as a flavoring in processed foods because of its buttery taste and ability to enhance sweet flavors. It was commonly used as an additive in “butter-flavored” microwave popcorn, consumed by millions the world over. After the popcorn lung investigations, most manufacturers stopped using butter flavoring with diacetyl.
What is the name of the chemical that is used in popcorn flavoring?
After the popcorn lung investigations, most manufacturers stopped using butter flavoring with diacetyl. Diacetyl is also known as 2,3-butanedione. It’s part of a chemical family called diketones. The other popular diketone used as a flavoring is acetyl propionyl, also known as AP or 2,3-pentanedione.
What chemicals cause popcorn lung?
Although diketones like diacetyl are the chemicals most often associated with popcorn lung, the National Institutes of Health list several other chemicals that can cause it, including chlorine, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and inhaled metal fumes from welding. And despite being the only real popcorn lung cure, lung transplants themselves can cause it ...
How long does it take for popcorn lung to develop?
Although popcorn lung is an incredibly rare disease, the early symptoms are similar to a common cold. Over a period of weeks or months, those symptoms progress and become more severe. Eventually the disease causes a variety of severe problems with breathing and absorption of oxygen. Untreated, popcorn lung causes death from respiratory failure within months or years.
What causes bronchiolitis obliterans?
Bronchiolitis obliterans can result from a variety of medical and environmental causes . The bronchioles can become inflamed and damaged from viral, bacterial and fungal infections, or by inhalation of chemical particles. Although diketones like diacetyl are the chemicals most often associated with popcorn lung, the National Institutes of Health list several other chemicals that can cause it, including chlorine, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and inhaled metal fumes from welding.
How to diagnose popcorn lung?
Popcorn lung can be difficult to diagnose. Although CT scans and pulmonary function tests can offer strong clues, the only truly reliable way to identify the disease is through a surgical lung biopsy. And sometimes multiple biopsy samples are required to be certain.
What Is White Lung?
White lung happens when a chemical irritant of some type scars the lung tissue, which eventually causes the lungs to become stiff, making breathing more difficult. The scarring happens because the chemical irritates the alveoli, which fill up with fluid, making oxygen transfer difficult.
How Do They Relate To Vaping?
Doctors are still learning more about the lung illnesses caused by vaping, but they believe chemical irritation is the main cause. Vaping products use many chemicals that they do not disclose to the public, as well as some that we know about, like formaldehyde. The Mayo Clinic has stated that the types of injuries involved with vaping illnesses is consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals, just like white lung and popcorn lung.
How to contact Novi office about lung disease?
Call our Novi office at 248-489-WOLF (9653) or send an email today.
Are There Contaminants in Your Cannabis Vape oil?
There are two concerns about contaminants in cannabis oil products: the accidental pollutants lingering from the production process and the deliberately included ingredients, such as thinning agents, flavors, and preservatives. Both are concerning, and both have inadequate research.
What are the Known Risks of Inhaling?
According to one of the most extensive reviews on smoking cannabis, the long-term negative health effects of inhaling cannabis smoke are minimal. There is no evidence connecting cannabis smoke to lung or respiratory cancers, and little evidence of other severe long-term health issues.
What is the name of the disease caused by a microwave popcorn factory?
When inhaled over prolonged periods, the chemical scars sensitive lung tissue, and triggers the onset of bronchiolitis obliterans.
Does popcorn contain diacetyl?
The popcorn industry no longer uses Diacetyl. It is, unfortunately, present in many vaping products with vanilla, caramel, or other buttery flavors. Until further research occurs about the safety of additional ingredients included in cannabis vape products, steer clear.
Is vaping dry flower bad for you?
We can conclude that vaping dry flower may have less detrimental short-term effects on respiratory health than smoking would because it vaporizes the active ingredient instead of combusting it. Inhaling products of combustion is always a bad idea.
Is smoking cannabis safe?
Smoking cannabis isn’t what it used to be. There are now so many novel methods of delivery, and vaping is one of the most popular choices. The popularity of cannabis vapes skyrocketed well before science had a chance to prove its effectiveness for therapeutic consumption, or to create a safety profile. Should we worry about that?
Where does Jessica McKeil live?
She is lucky enough to live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada where the cannabis industry is exploding. When not writing, she spends much of her time exploring in the coastal forests.
What exactly is Popcorn Lung?
Popcorn Lung (Bronchiolitis Obliterans as it is known medically) is a disease that affects the bronchioles (The small airways in the lungs), it can be treated but not cured. It essentially scars the tiny air sacs in the lungs causing the airways to narrow.
What Causes Popcorn Lung?
Over a decade ago workers in a microwave popcorn factory were sickened by this disease, it was caused by the chemical Diacetyl which gave the popcorn a tasty buttery flavour. Some of these workers, over a period of years, had inhaled large amounts of this chemical resulting in popcorn lung, which is where the name has come from.
Why Is It Linked To Vaping?
When vaping first started to gain popularity a small number of dessert flavoured liquids contained trace amounts of diacetyl (between 9 and 10 micrograms) to give it the authentic buttery flavouring, today that isn’t the case. Diacetyl has since been outright banned in vape liquid and has been for a number of years now.
The Regulations We Must Adhere To
Since 2014 the vaping world has had to conform to a list of rules, we like to call the TPD (Tobacco Products Directive). This outline everything, we can and cannot do in regards from vaping, whether it’s the size of a tank to how much nicotine we can legally sell.