Scientific studies reveal new long-term impacts of tobacco and vaping

Recent scientific studies have provided new insights into the long-term biological impacts of tobacco and nicotine use.

A study published in Nature Medicine examined the potential link between vaping and lung cancer. While initial reports suggested a 56% increased risk, researchers noted that the findings were based on a small sample size of 71 lung cancer cases among daily vapers. When the analysis accounted for changes in behavior between 2018 and 2020, the increased risk for daily users dropped to 38% and was no longer statistically significant. However, a risk remains statistically significant when considering all forms of vaping, including occasional use.

Separately, researchers from the University of Leicester, publishing in Science Advances, discovered that tobacco consumption leaves chemical traces in human cortical bone that can persist for centuries. By comparing skeletons from before and after the introduction of tobacco in Europe, the team identified metabolic differences in the dense outer layer of the bone. This discovery allows scientists to identify tobacco use in historical remains beyond traditional dental examination.