Scientists have issued a warning to those who smoke e-cigarettes as the smoking aid can potentially damage their DNA and increase their chances of developing illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.
The latest findings come after researchers at the New York University School of Medicine found that the smoke created by the device can actively manipulate cells, which in turn causes conditions such as heart disease.
During the research which was carried out on mice. Dr Moon-shong Tang discovered that the vapours admitted from the device that is used as an aid to quit smoking, caused a greater mutation in cells in the mice compared to those breathing normal air.
The research team also discovered that device which delivers nicotine without the tar from regular tobacco products, also caused extensive mutations in cultured human lung and bladder cells.
Speaking about their findings to the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr Tang’s team said: “We propose that ECS (e-cigarette smoke) is carcinogenic and that e-cig smokers have a higher risk than non-smokers to develop lung and bladder cancer and heart disease.”
They also claimed that the research concluded that human cells would have an increased chance of developing tumours if a person was smoking from the device.
Dr Tang’s team concluded that all though the devices are marketed to cut out the harmful toxins that regular cigarette products produce, they claimed the device should be considered as equally harmful as normal tobacco products.