Research identifies protein responsible for increasing inflammation and oxidative stress

A new study has identified a protein that nicotine-free vape fluid increases in the lung, causing damage including oxidative stress, inflammation and breakdown of the blood vessels.

The research, published in the journal Microvascular Research demonstrates a range of damaging pathways when an in vitro model of the human lung was exposed to a common brand of nicotine-free e-cigarette.

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular in recent years and are often seen as harmless alternatives to cigarette smoking. It is estimated that there are almost five million ‘vapers’ in the UK, compared to around 700,000 in 2012.

  • Onsotumenh@discuss.tchncs.de
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    10 months ago

    Yeah, sadly those have become the norm since they started the ridiculous vaping tax here in Germany. It started at 16ct/ml for everything that goes into a liquid independent of nicotine content (base, flavour concentrate, everything…) and its supposed to go up to 32ct/ml in 2026. This has greatly harmed the mod scene while strengthening the pod market. This was done for ‘health reasons’ making vaping less appealing for the youth, but everyone suspects the tobacco lobby influenced how the tax was set up, to profit their disposable businesses…

    • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      10 months ago

      Yeah the tobacco lobby is pushing bullshit over here too with moderate success, not that bad yet though. Also big pharma is helping because of their interest in products like chantix. Can you guys buy base and make your own juice? It sounds a lot harder than it is assuming you can get the components.

      • Onsotumenh@discuss.tchncs.de
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        10 months ago

        You can still get them but prices are pretty outrageous compared to before. As a result of that a lot of the smaller companies have died and a lot of the small independent neighbourhood vaping shops have closed.

        I have just checked my bulk order from before the tax… I paid 30€ for 1l 50:50 base. Today you pay 35€ for 100ml of the same (same shop of course).

        Edit: the irony of the whole thing is that it’s now more economic to use high nicotine ready made liquids and to not use sub ohm coils to reduce liquid throughput… Great work lawmakers!

        • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          10 months ago

          Damn that sucks. It’d be real cool if some foreign company would sell base as “not for human consumption” like people do with bath salts and shit in the states.