Overview
- The UNSW-led analysis, published Monday in Carcinogenesis, found that nicotine e‑cigarettes are likely to cause cancers of the lung and mouth.
- Researchers drew on more than 100 studies, including human biomarker data showing DNA damage and inflammation, animal work where mice developed lung tumors, and lab tests of how vape chemicals harm cells.
- The review identified carcinogens in vape aerosols such as volatile organic compounds, metals like nickel, and cytotoxic flavorings that can trigger oxidative stress and genomic damage.
- The authors said they cannot yet quantify the cancer risk for the population because long-term epidemiology will take decades given cancer’s slow development.
- Public health experts urged stronger enforcement of Australia’s pharmacy‑only rules and warned that dual users face higher danger, citing 2024 research reporting a four‑fold rise in lung cancer risk for people who both vape and smoke.