e-cigarettes damaging lungs?

Electronic or e-cigarettes are devices that deliver nicotine through a vapour, rather than smoke. No combustion is involved but the nicotine is still derived from tobacco. However, there has been little scientific evidence to support claims either on its safety or efficiency.

Researchers from the University of Athens, Greece, aimed to investigate the short-term effects of using e-cigarettes on different people, including people without any known health problems and smokers with and without existing lung conditions.

The study included a group of people who had never smoked and 24 smokers, 11 with normal lung function and 13 people with either chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma, according to an Athens statement.

Each person used an electronic cigarette for 10 minutes. The researchers then measured their airway resistance using a number of tests, including a spirometry test.