A teenager secretly vaping for three years developed a severe, irreversible lung disease called “popcorn lung,” drawing attention to the hidden dangers of flavored e-cigarettes.
Originally linked to workers inhaling buttery chemicals at popcorn factories, the condition is now reemerging through vaping.
Teen Vaper Diagnosed With “Popcorn Lung”
An American teenager was recently reported to have developed the oddly named medical condition “popcorn lung” after vaping in secret for three years. Officially known as bronchiolitis obliterans, popcorn lung is a rare but serious and irreversible disease that damages the tiny airways in the lungs, leading to persistent coughing, wheezing, fatigue, and breathlessness.
The term “popcorn lung” dates back to the early 2000s when several workers at a microwave popcorn factory developed lung problems after inhaling a chemical called diacetyl – the same ingredient used to give popcorn its rich, buttery taste.
Diacetyl, or 2,3-butanedione, is a flavoring agent that becomes a toxic inhalant when aerosolized. It causes inflammation and scarring in the bronchioles (the smallest branches of the lungs), making it increasingly difficult for air to move through. The result: permanent, often disabling lung damage.
Global Vape Regulations and Hidden Risks
Diacetyl is officially banned in e-cigarettes in the EU and UK, but not in the US and other jurisdictions. And illegal vapes that may not comply with regulations are common.
Popcorn lung can also be triggered by inhaling other toxic chemicals, including volatile carbonyls like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, both of which have also been detected in e-cigarette vapours.
The scariest part? There’s no cure for popcorn lung. Once the lungs are damaged, treatment is limited to managing symptoms. This can include bronchodilators, steroids, and in extreme cases, lung transplantation. For this reason, prevention, not treatment, is the best and only defense.
And yet, for young vapers, prevention isn’t so straightforward.
Teenagers at Risk: The Vaping Trap
Vaping is especially popular among teenagers and young adults, possibly due to the thousands of flavored vape products available – from bubblegum to cotton candy to mango ice. But those fruity, candy-like flavors come with a chemical cost.
E-liquids may contain nicotine, but they also include a chemical cocktail designed to appeal to users. Many of these flavoring agents are approved for use in food. That doesn’t mean they’re safe to inhale.
Here’s why that matters: when chemicals are eaten, they go through the digestive system and are processed by the liver before entering the bloodstream. That journey reduces their potential harm. But when chemicals are inhaled, they bypass this filtration system entirely. They go straight into the lungs – and from there, directly into the bloodstream, reaching vital organs like the heart and brain within seconds.
That’s what made the original popcorn factory cases so tragic. Eating butter-flavored popcorn? Totally fine. Breathing in the buttery chemical? Devastating.
Complexity and Unknowns of Vape Chemistry
With vaping, the situation is even murkier. Diacetyl is not found in all vapes, but its substitutes – acetoin and 2,3-pentanedione – may be just as harmful.
Experts estimate there are over 180 different flavoring agents used in e-cigarette products today. When heated, many of these chemicals break down into new compounds – some of which have never been tested for inhalation safety. That’s a major concern.
Though the exact risks aren’t known, there have been medically documented cases of popcorn lung linked to vaping. Because vapers’ lungs are exposed to so many chemicals, it’s not possible to directly prove that diacetyl is the cause of the disease in any specific case. But that doesn’t negate the proven risks of inhaling it.
Chemical Exposure and Respiratory Damage
Even if diacetyl isn’t the sole culprit, cumulative exposure to multiple chemicals and their byproducts could increase the risk of popcorn lung and other respiratory conditions.
This was tragically echoed in the story of the American teen who developed the disease. Her case is reminiscent of the 2019 Evali crisis (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury), which saw 68 deaths and over 2,800 hospitalizations in the US. That outbreak was eventually linked to vitamin E acetate – a thickening agent in some cannabis vape products. When heated, it produces a highly toxic gas called ketene.
More recent studies are raising alarm bells about vaping’s impact on young people’s respiratory health. A multi-national study found that adolescents who vape report significantly more respiratory symptoms, even when adjusting for smoking status. Certain flavor types, nicotine salts, and frequency of use were all linked to these symptoms.
So, what does this all mean?
It’s clear that history is repeating itself. Just as workplace safety rules were overhauled to protect popcorn factory workers, we now need similar regulatory urgency for the vaping industry, especially when it comes to protecting the next generation.
From Popcorn to Vapes: A Shared Warning
Popcorn and vaping might seem worlds apart, but they’re connected by a common thread: exposure to inhaled chemicals that were never meant for the lungs. The danger lies not in what these chemicals are when eaten, but in what they become when heated and inhaled.
If we apply the lessons from industrial safety to today’s vaping habits, particularly among young people, we could avoid repeating the same mistakes. Regulations, clear labeling, stricter ingredient testing, and educational campaigns can help minimize the risks.
Until then, stories like that of the American teen serve as powerful reminders that vaping, despite its fruity flavors and sleek designs, is not without consequence. Sometimes, what seems harmless can leave damage that lasts a lifetime.
Written by:
- Donal O’Shea –Professor of Chemistry, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Gerry McElvaney –Professor of Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Adapted from an article originally published in The Conversation.
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2 Comments
If the “scientists ” if this article had the full information from this case, they would know the kid got it from someone making their own vape juice. Any sold in shopes can only have 3 ingredients per FDA. Scaring people meaninglessly over stupid people making a quick buck and harming others rather than the facts is not scientific at all it’s click bate.
I don’t know how many chemicals are in vape pens. I’m older and used to and still do buy an occasional pack of actual cigarettes when under great stress. Nicotine helps. My niece and her friends called me Ashtraybreath. But they went through cartridges like a 4 pack per day unfiltered camels addict without the smell but with the wheeze and emphysema gasp. My big sister was dying of and for ciggys and they thought they were so superior to old Unky Ricky Ashbreath for sneaking away to the smoking area for “fresh air”. I bought 3 packs of her brand 100s before the end for old times sake and her comfort.
I use nicotine medicinally and sparingly and never became its servant.