Study reveals cannabis smoke causes lung cell damage

Researchers from Cinvestav, UNAM, and the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER) have conducted a study analyzing the effects of cannabis smoke on lung cells. Using A549 lung cell lines in controlled laboratory conditions, the study examined how substances in marijuana smoke impact the pulmonary epithelium.

The findings indicate that exposure to cannabis smoke can trigger several adverse cellular responses, including increased oxidative stress, genetic damage, cellular dysfunction, and cell death. The research also highlighted the potential effects of secondhand smoke, noting that the combustion process generates toxic substances that alter the cells responsible for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.