Sensationalist media reports sometimes claim that vaping causes popcorn lung. This is a myth. Vaping does not cause popcorn lung, as confirmed by the NHS, Cancer Research UK, and the UK Health Security Agency.
In this FACT blog, we break down what the evidence tells us about popcorn lung and vaping:
What is popcorn lung?
- Popcorn lung is the common name given to a very rare but serious lung condition called bronchiolitis obliterans which is caused by damage to the small airways in the lungs.
- The condition does not mean your lungs explode or turn to popcorn – it actually earned this nickname because it was initially discovered about 20 years ago in workers in a microwave popcorn factory.
- These workers were exposed to seriously high levels of a compound called diacetyl, which was used to give the popcorn a buttery flavour.
- This exposure caused inflammation and scarring of the bronchioles, leading to persistent cough and shortness of breath.
Vaping, smoking and diacetyl
- Diacetyl is banned as an ingredient in e-cigarettes and e-liquids in both the European Union and the UK.
- Despite diacetyl being found in cigarette smoke at very much higher levels than has ever been reported in an e-cigarette, there has never been a case of popcorn lung associated with cigarette smoking.
- Even when diacetyl was found in e-cigarette vapour, the levels were hundreds of times lower than those in combustible cigarettes or occupational exposures seen in popcorn factories.
- Despite being used by millions of adults, there are no known cases of popcorn lung linked to vaping.
Conclusions
- Vaping does not cause popcorn lung.
- Diacetyl is banned in vaping products in the EU and UK.
- The fear of popcorn lung from vaping is not supported by current scientific evidence.
