The vapor of e-cigarettes has a devastating effect on lung tissue, scientists from the Crimean Federal University have found, university's website reported.

Long-term exposure of the lungs to vapors from e-cigarettes leads to cell death and tissue destruction, scientists say. Studies on 30 white rats have shown that vaping pairs lead to an increase in the activity of trypsin-like proteinases that break down proteins.

 The rodents were divided into three groups: one group was exposed to a nicotine-free smoking mixture, the other studied the effect of the vapor of the mixture with the addition of 6 milligrams of nicotine per milliliter, and the third group was the control group. After 40 days, damage to structural proteins due to vaping vapors was observed in the respiratory organs of the animals from the experimental group.

Damage is associated with phagocytic cells, which secrete elastase cleaving proteins, and a decrease in the activity of inhibitor proteins. The latter are responsible for protecting tissues from the destructive action of certain enzymes. Regular inhalation of vaping vapors disrupts this mechanism.

 However, nicotine mixtures had a more severe effect on the body. This is confirmed by an increase in the level of activity of trypsin-like proteinases by 49% more than with the action of non-nicotine-containing analogs. And the harm of nicotine-free vapor is explained by the presence of formaldehyde and free radicals.