• A University of Southern California study has found that vapers exhibit similar chemical modifications to people who smoke cigarettes – modifications commonly found in nearly all types of human cancer.
  • In an email sent to BI, the study's lead researcher, Ahmad Besaratinia, said the study "demonstrates, for the first time, biologically important molecular changes in blood cells of vapers, similarly to smokers."
  • Experts told BI that research into the physiological effects of vaping is often hindered by the fact that many vapers have a history of smoking.
  • Though the USC study seems to have avoided this hindrance, the fact many vapers are ex-smokers may make research into vaping's physiological impact challenging.
  • 6.1% of British vapers in the period January 2019 to September 2019 had never smoked, according to UK government research, while a 2018 study found that 15% of US adult vapers had never smoked.