Researchers from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) have been conducting a study to establish the effects of vaping or e-cigarettes, and the preliminary results indicate that it causes lung injury.

The preliminary findings of the vaping study were recently published in a scientific journal called the American Heart Association Journal. The study’s initial results indicate that using e-cigarettes or vaping can cause significant lung injury when the vaping device contains heating elements made out of nickel-chromium alloy.

The negative effects were observed after switching to a different heating element

The research findings were also similar regardless of whether the e-cigarette contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), vitamin E, or nicotine, which have previously been thought to harm the respiratory system. Researchers observed the dangerous impact of vaping after subjected switched from vaping devices whose heating elements are made out of stainless steel to heating elements made out of nickel-chromium alloy.

“The results were so impactful, we felt it imperative to release the initial findings early so that electronic cigarette users could be cautioned sooner, especially considering E-cigarette users are at increased risk of COVID-19,” stated Professor Robert A. Kloner who is one of the researchers involved in the study.

In September last year, the switch happened after the stainless-steel devices that were previously being used went out of the market and were replaced by the more dangerous nickel-chromium alloy-based vaping devices. The researchers observed the negative impact and respiratory distress that the newer devices caused within the first hour of observing the experiment after the switch. Users started to experience labored breathing, panting, and wheezing.

The vaping research has been ongoing for more than a year, and it was initially launched to determine the impact of vaping on heart function. None of the subjects that had been vaping using the stainless steel-based heating elements showed any signs of respiratory distress. Once the nickel-chromium allow was introduced, many subjects were severely affected. The findings may indicate that specific devices are affected. The research is still ongoing, and this is just as important because it will allow the researchers to understand more about the impacts of vaping.