Chemistry expert Professor Donal O’Shea warns that preventing vaping is the only real defense against irreversible lung damage, including “popcorn lung,” caused by chemicals like diacetyl. Once damaged, lungs can only be managed with limited treatments like bronchodilators or transplants.
Though diacetyl is banned in UK and EU e-cigarettes, it still appears in some illicit and U.S. products. With over 180 mostly untested flavoring agents in vapes, experts caution that cumulative chemical exposure raises the risk of serious lung conditions.
