An expert has emphasized that prevention, not treatment, is the key to addressing the risks of vaping, particularly the irreversible lung damage known as “popcorn lung” or bronchiolitis obliterans. This condition, caused by chemicals like diacetyl in vapes, leads to permanent lung damage.

Professor Donal O’Shea, a chemistry expert, explained that diacetyl, also used in microwave popcorn factories, causes inflammation and scarring in the lungs. He stressed that once the lungs are damaged, treatment options are limited to symptom management, such as bronchodilators or even lung transplants in extreme cases.

Diacetyl is banned in e-cigarettes in the UK and EU, but it’s still found in some illicit products and remains in US vapes. Other harmful substances, like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, can also contribute to lung damage. With over 180 flavouring agents in e-cigarettes, many of which haven’t been tested for safety, experts warn that cumulative exposure to these chemicals increases the risk of severe respiratory conditions.

O’Shea argues that prevention, rather than treatment, is the only effective defense against vaping-related lung damage.