Vaping bad for brain health; residue may affect unborn babies

Two new studies have provided further evidence that vaping is bad for our health, with university students who vape found to have lower cognitive function scores than those who don’t — and the more they vape, the bigger the disparity.

The first study, which was presented at the 149th Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association, included 405 Hispanic university students aged 18–30 who attended one of two universities in Guayaquil, Ecuador: 64 only vaped; 31 only smoked cigarettes; 111 smoked and vaped; and 199 never smoked or vaped. All were given Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tests, for which scores 26 and above are considered normal and those below 25 may indicate some cognitive impairment.

Students who did not smoke or vape scored a median of 26 (low of 18); those who only vaped scored a median of 24 (low of 16); those who only smoked cigarettes scored a median of 25 (low of 22); and those who vaped and smoked together scored a median of 24 (low of 8). Researchers also determined that students who vaped 10 to 20 puffs per day had scores 9.2% lower than those who did not vape or smoke, and those who vaped more than 20 puffs a day had scores 13.7% lower than those who didn’t vape or smoke.

“People in the study who had previously smoked cigarettes typically smoked three or four a week, but with vaping, they now smoke double, triple or more, especially if they smoke and vape,” said lead author Linker Viñan Paucar, from the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil. “Electronic cigarettes with up to 20,000 puffs are supposed to last three months, but we found many students finished them before the first month and started using others.”

While research has previously shown that smoking can affect cognition by reducing brain volume and narrowing the blood vessels, there is little information available on vaping’s relationship to cognitive function, such as learning, memory, problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making. It is however known that nicotine — which is contained in many vapes — can cause neurotoxicity that damages brain cells.

“We believe our research marks a before and after in the field of studying cognitive function regarding vaping,” Viñan Paucar said.

The second study, published in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, found that exposure to vape and e-cigarette residue on surfaces while pregnant could put unborn babies at risk of immune system damage. This is because hot vape liquid can produce toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein, a hazardous air pollutant.

“When vapes are used indoors, or in a vehicle, the vapour condenses on surfaces forming a thick, oily layer, and this residue can be absorbed through the skin,” said study co-author Distinguished Professor Brian Oliver, from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research.

In a study led by Dr Chantal Donovan and Dr Richard Kim, both from UTS, pregnant mice were exposed to e-cigarette vapour residue on towels. Their offspring were then infected with flu, and their immune system response assessed.

The researchers found that in the exposed offspring, a specialised type of immune cell, called a CD8⁺ T cell, became dysregulated. CD8⁺ T cells are essential for mounting an effective immune response against infections, as well as cancer.

Previous research has shown that vaping during pregnancy can cause serious harm to the baby — including increased risk of stillbirth, low birth weight and developmental problems — but Donovan said this latest study shows that maternal third-hand exposure to e-vapour results in significant effects on lung and bone marrow immune cell responses.

“The study supports the growing body of evidence of the dangers of e-cigarette exposure and highlights that even third-hand e-vapour exposure during pregnancy could have long-lasting effects,” she said.

Kim added, “Visitors to the homes of friends or relatives who vape might not realise they’re being exposed to harmful chemicals just by touching benchtops or sitting on the couch. People who vape need to understand that this doesn’t just affect them.”

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