Does Vaping Cause Popcorn Lung?

Popcorn lung, also known as the more ominous-sounding bronchiolitis obliterans, is a rare but incredibly serious disease that ravages the lungs to the extent that they are unable to heal. Anyone suffering from this nasty affliction faces a terrible, incurable, painful ordeal bearing symptoms similar to that of COPD. 

Victims of popcorn lung can expect lots of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, dizzy spells, and worse. To describe popcorn lung as something best avoided would be a magnificent understatement – this is something you really could do without. 

But what is popcorn lung, and where did it come from?

Widespread Narrative

Just a few short years ago, popcorn lung was practically unheard of by most people. In recent years, the term has become ingrained in the zeitgeist, owing to speculation that unsuspecting consumers could suffer the wrath of popcorn lungs from vaping.

But does vaping cause popcorn lung, really? Is it merely a buzzword invented by the media to drum up controversy and fill column inches? The short answer is simple: while there is a link between popcorn lung and vaping, the connection is extremely tenuous at best. 

What Is Popcorn Lung?

Popcorn lung leads to inflammation in the bronchioles (the smallest airways in the lungs), causing irreversible scarring. As you might expect, this makes breathing rather difficult, with many patients needing permanent supplemental oxygen merely to survive. Worst still, the tissue damage resulting from popcorn lung can never be undone. 

Popcorn lung first gained attention in the early 2000s, not because of vaping, but rather when factory workers were exposed to a chemical called diacetyl, a harsh product used in the flavouring of microwave popcorn. The workers were subsequently diagnosed with bronchiolitis obliterans, and with many patients hailing from said factory, the colloquial term ‘popcorn lung’ was born. 

The connection between diacetyl and popcorn lung is now firmly established in exposure through industrial processes, but it is the commercially used chemical, and not legal vaping per se, that causes the illness.

The Link Between Diacetyl and Vaping

Unfortunately, some of the very early ‘pioneering’  e-cigarette products contained diacetyl, usually in the form of flavouring for a buttery, creamy, vanilla-like taste. Once the potential health risks of diacetyl became clear – owing to the popcorn factory debacle – most responsible manufacturers removed the chemical from their products without hesitation. 

As a result, some early studies and media reports created confusion, leading to the belief that using any and all e-cigarettes could result in popcorn lung vaping issues. However, the vast majority of modern vaping products no longer contain diacetyl. Either way, there have never been any confirmed cases of popcorn lungs from vaping, even in those earlier products that used it.

That is not to suggest that all vaping manufacturers have stopped using diacetyl – unfortunately, we live in a world where mass-produced products sometimes spawn from countries that care little about consumer health – but certainly, no responsible manufacturer uses the chemical.

Does Vaping Cause Popcorn Lung?

So, does vaping cause popcorn lung or not? Despite the alarming myths and sensational media headlines, there is no firm evidence between popcorn lung and vaping. In fact, various health bodies from around the world, including the UK Health Security Agency, have made it clear that you will not experience popcorn lungs from vaping.

What’s more telling is that cigarettes – which contain far more diacetyl than early vaping products – have never been definitively, conclusively linked to causing the disease either. 

The upshot is quite simple: there is indeed a link between the industrial use of diacetyl and popcorn lung. Many of the early vape products employed the chemical for certain flavourings, and, as a result, the phenomena of popcorn lungs from vaping became wrongly assumed.

Vape products rarely use the chemical these days, however, and either way, there is no established connection between diacetyl and popcorn lung when it comes to the levels found in vaping or smoking.

Still not convinced? Worried that vaping poses too much of a health threat? We have a much better solution for you in the form of our very own NEAFS products. 

Make the Jump to NEAFS

While vaping may carry some risk, NEAFS uses an entirely different approach. Our heated tobacco products don’t rely on diacetyl or other harmful chemicals to deliver their flavour. Instead, NEAFS technology heats our very own (and quite unique) cellulose blend for a much cleaner experience.

Unlike vaping, NEAFS has no association with diacetyl or any chemicals that could contribute to popcorn lung. Our products are a much safer alternative for anyone looking for a nicotine fix without the potential risks associated with vaping.

Why Choose NEAFS?

Ultimately, vaping is quite unlikely to cause popcorn lung. But for those wanting to avoid even the slightest element of doubt, NEAFS promises a much smarter alternative. It tastes better, too. 

Our products give you the satisfaction of smoking without the smoke, ash, or harmful chemicals like diacetyl. You can think of NEAFS as almost like smoking, without actually smoking.

Check out our starter bundles today, and join the NEAFS revolution: the safer and more enjoyable way to enjoy your nicotine habit.