Vaping: Is It Really Safer Than Smoking?

Written By Amanda Holyk

In recent years, vaping has been marketed as a "healthier alternative" to traditional cigarettes. But how safe is it really - especially for those living with or at risk of chronic lung conditions like COPD or asthma?

Let’s break down the science behind vaping and what you need to know before taking a puff.

What Is Vaping?

Vaping involves inhaling aerosolized substances - usually nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals - through an electronic device, such as an e-cigarette or vape pen. Unlike cigarettes, these devices don’t burn tobacco but heat a liquid (“e-liquid” or “vape juice”) into an aerosol that users inhale.

What’s in a Vape?

Although vapes eliminate some of the harmful substances found in cigarette smoke (like tar), they still contain a cocktail of potentially dangerous chemicals, including:

  • Nicotine - highly addictive and harmful to brain development in adolescents.

  • Formaldehyde & Acetaldehyde - both known carcinogens.

  • Diacetyl - a flavoring linked to bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as "popcorn lung."

Vaping and Lung Health

Even though vaping doesn’t involve combustion, research shows it still harms the lungs:

  • A 2022 study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that e-cigarette users showed increased airway inflammation and reduced lung function, even among healthy adults.
    👉 Source

  • Another study published in Tobacco Control (2021) linked regular vaping with a higher risk of respiratory symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, especially in youth.

    👉 Source

Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking?

In some ways, yes - but that doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Public health organizations like the CDC and WHO agree that while vaping may expose users to fewer toxic chemicals than cigarettes, it still poses serious health risks, especially for youth, pregnant individuals, and people with lung disease.

Vaping & Chronic Lung Conditions

For individuals with COPD, asthma, or other lung diseases, vaping can:

  • Trigger exacerbations

  • Reduce lung function

  • Increase inflammation in already-compromised airways

Bottom line: Vaping is not a safe alternative if you’re managing a chronic lung condition.

While vaping might be less harmful than traditional smoking, it is not harmless. The best way to protect your lungs is to avoid both. If you're trying to quit smoking or vaping, evidence-based support from your healthcare provider or programs like iMaster Health’s Virtual Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program can help.

Amanda Holyk
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What is Popcorn Lung?