University of New South Wales study links e-cigarettes to higher cancer risk
Updated
Updated · Sharjah24 · May 4
University of New South Wales study links e-cigarettes to higher cancer risk
5 articles · Updated · Sharjah24 · May 4
Published in Carcinogenesis, the Sydney review examined laboratory, animal and clinical studies, finding DNA damage, oxidative stress and tumour evidence in animal experiments.
Researchers also identified carcinogenic compounds in e-cigarette vapour and said dual use with traditional cigarettes may further raise lung cancer risk.
The findings add to concern over vaping's rapid growth since the early 2000s, especially among young people, despite its marketing as a safer smoking alternative.
What cancer-causing chemicals does this new study say millions of vapers are unknowingly inhaling?
A new study links vaping to cancer. Are smokers just trading one deadly habit for another?
With vape flavor bans meant to protect teens, are we failing adult smokers who want to quit?
UNSW Review Confirms Nicotine E-Cigarettes Likely Cause Lung and Oral Cancer: Dual Use Raises Lung Cancer Risk 4-Fold
Overview
A comprehensive 2026 UNSW Sydney review confirms that nicotine-based e-cigarettes are likely to cause lung and oral cancers, fulfilling all key carcinogenic criteria. This conclusion is supported by evidence showing harmful chemicals in e-cigarette aerosols, including carcinogens and toxic metals, which cause DNA damage, oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic changes. Dual use of e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes dramatically increases cancer risk, with dual users facing four times the lung cancer risk of smokers alone. These findings highlight urgent public health needs for stricter regulations, especially flavor bans to protect youth, alongside strategies supporting smokers to quit both products and reduce overall cancer burden.