March 27, 2019&mdash;People who smoke e-cigarettes may think they're saving their lungs from the ill effects of traditional cigarettes, but e-cigs appear to do their own kind of damage. Two recent studies revealed an unhealthy picture of some of the effects of vaping.

One study, published in the journal <a target="_blank" href="https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/">Tobacco Control</a>, found that people who used e-cigs were nearly twice as likely to experience wheezing as non-tobacco users. Wheezing is caused by damaged airways. It's often the first sign of impending health conditions like emphysema, gastroesophageal reflux disease, heart failure, lung cancer and sleep apnea.

The second study was published in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>. It found that two chemicals often used to flavor e-cigs may be damaging the fine, hair-like cilia that line airways. Cilia play a major role in keeping the airways clear of mucus and dirt, allowing us to breathe easily.

The two chemicals are diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione. In a previous study, the researchers found them in over 90 percent of e-cigs tested. Diacetyl has previously been linked to a debilitating lung disease called "popcorn lung." Pentanedione is sometimes used as a substitute for diacetyl.

Safety standards exist for how much of these chemicals workers can inhale on the job. There are no such standards for e-cig users.

E-cigs cause airway damage, two studies find