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A comprehensive review by researchers at the University of New South Wales has revealed significant early indicators linking vaping to an increased risk of lung and oral cancers. The findings, published in the journal Carcinogenesis, highlight the urgent need for regulatory action as the evidence mounts against e-cigarettes, which have been touted as a safer alternative to traditional smoking.
Vaping and Cancer: A Growing Body of Evidence
The review synthesised data from a wide range of studies conducted between 2017 and 2025, incorporating animal research, human case reports, and laboratory findings. Co-author Adjunct Professor Bernard Stewart emphasised that the inhalation of e-cigarette vapour leads to biological changes in the body, including DNA damage and inflammation, which are strong precursors to cancer.
Stewart stated, “There is no doubt that the cells and tissues of the oral cavity, the mouth, and the lungs are altered by inhalation from e-cigarettes.” While the long-term effects of vaping are still being studied, the early warning signs are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
The Need for Immediate Regulatory Action
Despite the lack of extensive long-term human data—largely due to the relatively recent advent of e-cigarettes in the early 2000s—researchers fear that waiting for definitive evidence could lead to avoidable cancer cases. The review did not quantify the exact cancer risk posed by vaping but established that it induces biological changes commonly associated with cancer development.
Lead author Associate Professor Freddy Sitas drew parallels with the historical recognition of smoking as a cause of lung cancer, noting that it took decades for sufficient evidence to emerge. “We risk repeating that same fate with vaping if we don’t take emerging research and warning signs seriously,” he warned.
Case Reports and Animal Studies Highlight Risks
The study also included alarming case reports from dental professionals who observed instances of oral cancer in individuals who had exclusively vaped and had no history of smoking. Animal studies further corroborate these concerns; for example, mice exposed to e-cigarette vapour exhibited significantly higher rates of lung tumours compared to their unexposed counterparts.
While these findings do not directly translate to human outcomes, they raise critical questions about the safety of vaping. “On the basis of all of that knowledge, we determined e-cigarettes are likely to cause lung cancer and oral cancer,” Stewart noted, though he refrained from quantifying the extent of the risk.
A Call for Precautionary Measures
Health experts are urging policymakers to consider the implications of this study seriously. Calvin Cochran, a research fellow at the University of Otago in New Zealand, remarked that nearly 8,000 studies were reviewed to reach these conclusions. He cautioned against the tendency to downplay emerging evidence, stressing that the time for preventive action is now.
Sitas reinforced this sentiment by arguing that vaping should not be assumed to be a safe alternative to smoking. “What we’re showing is that they might not be safe after all,” he said, highlighting the lack of effective cessation strategies for vaping compared to smoking.
While some researchers, like Professor Stephen Duffy from Queen Mary University London, caution against equating vaping with the same health risks as smoking—primarily due to the absence of combustion products—Stewart insists that vaping should be evaluated based on its own potential to cause cancer.
Why it Matters
The implications of this research are profound, particularly for young people who have never smoked. The evidence suggests that vaping is not merely a harmless alternative but could pose serious health risks. As nations grapple with the regulation of e-cigarettes, the study advocates for a balanced approach that limits access to vulnerable populations while providing a controlled pathway for smokers seeking to quit. The time to act is now; ignoring these early warning signs risks perpetuating a public health crisis that could have been prevented.
