How Vaping Affects the Lungs

02Dec 2025 by Quit Smoking Advisors

Vaping is widely considered less harmful than smoking, but it is not harmless. While vaping avoids tobacco combustion, tar, carbon monoxide, and thousands of toxic chemicals found in cigarettes, the aerosol inhaled from e-cigarettes can still impact lung function in several ways.

This guide explains how vaping affects the lungs, what the current research shows, what risks are known, and how vaping compares to smoking when it comes to respiratory health.

1. Vaping Does Not Produce Smoke — But It Does Produce Aerosol

When you vape, the device heats e-liquid into an inhalable aerosol.
This aerosol contains:

  • Propylene glycol (PG)
  • Vegetable glycerin (VG)
  • Flavorings
  • Nicotine (optional)
  • Small particulate matter

Unlike cigarette smoke, vape aerosol does not contain tar or combustion byproducts — but it still enters deep into the lungs.

2. Short-Term Lung Effects of Vaping

A. Throat and Airway Irritation

Some people experience:

  • Coughing
  • Throat dryness
  • Mild chest tightness
  • Irritation after long sessions

This is often due to PG sensitivity or certain flavorings.

B. Increased Airway Reactivity

Vaping can temporarily cause airways to become more reactive, especially in people with:

  • Asthma
  • Bronchial hyperreactivity
  • Existing allergies

C. Temporary Decrease in Lung Function (reversible)

Some short-term studies show mild, short-term reductions in:

  • Lung capacity
  • Exhalation flow rate
  • Airway elasticity

These generally reverse after stopping vaping.

3. Long-Term Effects: What Is Known So Far

Vaping is newer than smoking, so long-term data is still developing.
However, several consistent findings have emerged:

A. Inflammation in Lung Tissue

Vape aerosol can trigger:

  • Low-level inflammation
  • Oxidative stress
  • Irritation of bronchial cells

This is significantly lower than smoking but still measurable.

B. Impact on Immune Cells in the Lungs

Some studies show vaping affects the function of alveolar macrophages (lung-cleaning immune cells), reducing their ability to clear debris.

C. Chronic Cough or “Vaper’s Cough”

Caused by:

  • Thick VG-based vapor
  • Dry airways
  • Heavy daily usage

This is usually reversible after reducing or stopping vaping.

D. Flavoring Chemicals

Certain flavorings, such as buttery, cinnamon, or heavy dessert flavors, may irritate airway cells more than tobacco or menthol flavors.

4. What About EVALI?

The 2019 outbreak of EVALI (vaping-associated lung injury) created widespread panic, but findings showed:

  • The cause was vitamin E acetate
  • Found in illegal black-market THC cartridges
  • Not found in nicotine e-liquids
  • Not related to regulated vape products

Nicotine vaping was not responsible for EVALI.

5. Does Vaping Cause Popcorn Lung?

No.
There are:

  • Zero confirmed cases of popcorn lung caused by vaping.
  • Modern e-liquids do not contain diacetyl.
  • Cigarettes contain far more diacetyl than early vape juice ever did.

This is now considered a misinformation myth.

6. How Vaping Compares to Smoking for Lung Health

Vaping is significantly lower risk than smoking because:

  • No tar
  • No carbon monoxide
  • No combustion
  • 90–95% fewer toxic chemicals
  • Much lower cancer risk
  • Less long-term airway damage

Clinical studies show:

  • Smokers who switch to vaping experience improved lung function
  • Chronic cough decreases
  • Asthma symptoms improve
  • COPD flare-ups decline

But vaping is not lung-neutral. It still carries risk.

7. Who Should Avoid Vaping Entirely

Young people

Developing lungs are more sensitive.

People with severe asthma

Vapor may trigger symptoms.

Pregnant individuals

Nicotine and aerosol exposure is unsafe for fetal development.

People with chronic respiratory disease

COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and other diseases require doctor supervision.

8. How to Reduce Lung Risk if You Vape

If someone chooses to vape, the following steps reduce harm:

Choose safer e-liquids

  • No black-market products
  • Reputable, lab-tested brands
  • Avoid buttery, cinnamon, or heavy dessert flavors

Use lower power settings

High wattage increases toxic byproducts.

Use clean, tight-draw MTL devices

Less vapor = less lung exposure.

Avoid dry hits

Burnt hits produce harmful chemicals.

Take breaks between sessions

Continuous chain vaping increases irritation.

Stay hydrated

Vaping can dry out airways.

Consider reducing nicotine gradually

Lower nicotine → fewer puffs → less aerosol inhalation.

9. Signs Vaping May Be Irritating Your Lungs

If you experience:

  • Wheezing
  • Persistent cough
  • Chest tightness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Difficulty inhaling

…you should reduce or stop vaping and seek medical advice.

10. Final Summary

What vaping does:

  • Causes mild airway irritation
  • Triggers low-level inflammation
  • Can increase coughing
  • Contains chemicals that enter lung tissue
  • Has unknown long-term effects (but data so far shows moderate risk)