A study out of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, found that chronic exposure to e-cigarette vapors, even without nicotine, could negatively impact normal lung function.
This exposure could also have ramifications for how the body responds to infections, as it can make immune cells in the lungs less able to respond to viruses.
The findings appear in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
As the authors of the new paper explain, some studies have suggested that the chemicals in e-cigarettes are harmful to the health of those who inhale them. Others, however, have noted that in comparison with regular tobacco cigarettes, these products are safer.