A new research review has raised concerns that nicotine-based vaping may be linked to oral and lung cancer, based on biological and toxicological evidence, although scientists say long-term human studies are still needed to confirm a direct causal relationship.

The analysis, conducted by a team of researchers and published recently, examined peer-reviewed studies from 2017 to mid-2025 to assess whether vaping could contribute to cancer development. While no long-term population studies currently exist to directly establish causation, the review focused on biological markers and cellular changes associated with cancer risk.

According to the findings, e-cigarette aerosols contain a mixture of chemicals including nicotine, metal particles from heating components, and other vapourised compounds. Researchers noted that many of these substances align with characteristics of known carcinogens as defined by international health authorities, including the World Health Organization.

Also Read: 20/04/2026 Horoscope: Taurus Must Seize Today's Networking Moment

The review also found evidence that vapers may absorb cancer-linked chemicals into the body, with blood and urine studies detecting nicotine byproducts as well as trace metals and organic compounds. In addition, some studies cited in the review identified DNA mutations and early biological changes in tissues of the mouth and lungs among individuals who use e-cigarettes.

Researchers further pointed to laboratory studies in animals suggesting that vape exposure could lead to lung cancer development, along with clinical observations from dental professionals who reported oral cancer cases in non-smokers who had a history of vaping. However, the authors stressed that such findings are not yet sufficient to establish direct causation in humans.

The study also highlighted a shift in scientific conclusions over time, noting that earlier research between 2017 and 2019 generally stated there was insufficient evidence to link vaping with cancer. More recent studies, however, increasingly express concern that vaping may carry greater cancer risks than previously assumed.

Despite these findings, researchers emphasised that definitive evidence of increased cancer incidence among exclusive vapers is still lacking. They noted that establishing such a link could take decades, similar to how it took nearly a century to confirm the relationship between tobacco smoking and lung cancer.

Experts involved in the review called for large-scale, long-term studies focused specifically on people who only vape, in order to better understand potential cancer risks. They also urged increased funding for research to allow early detection of possible long-term health impacts as vaping continues to grow globally.

Also Read: Char Dham Pilgrimage Starts As Gangotri And Yamunotri Shrines Open In Uttarakhand