Brazil Health Officials Warn of Rising Oral Cancer Risk from Youth E‑Cigarette Use

Health experts in Brazil are raising alarms about the growing use of electronic cigarettes among adolescents and young adults and its potential long‑term impact on oral health. Studies have identified cellular and genetic alterations caused by vape aerosol that could predispose users to mouth cancer later in life. Ana Gabriela Neis, a head‑and‑neck surgeon at Hospital São Marcelino Champagnat, stresses that because vaping is popular with younger people, the disease may appear in clinical practice in coming years. The National Cancer Institute (INCA) reports about 15,100 new oral‑cancer cases annually and notes that vaping is now being added to the list of risk factors. Data from Vigitel 2024 show 2.6 % of Brazilian adults currently use e‑cigarettes, the highest level since monitoring began.

Separate research highlights that passive exposure to vape aerosol is real. The aerosol can contain nicotine, ultrafine particles, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds, which may irritate eyes, nose and throat and pose greater risks to children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions. The World Health Organization and Brazilian health authorities caution that uncertainties remain about the safety of prolonged e‑cigarette use for both users and by‑standers.