Vaping Can Make You More Prone To Covid Infection: Study

A recent study published in the American Journal of Physiology reveals that certain chemicals found in electronic cigarettes may increase susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. Conducted by researchers from the University of California (UC), Riverside, the study highlights the potential risks associated with vaping.

The e-liquid used in electronic cigarettes typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and flavouring chemicals. Researchers found that propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, either alone or combined with nicotine, could enhance COVID-19 infection through various mechanisms.

However, the addition of benzoic acid to e-liquids was found to prevent infection caused by propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and nicotine. According to researcher Rattapol Phandthong, users who vape aerosols from e-liquids with a neutral to basic pH are more likely to be infected by the virus, whereas those using aerosols with benzoic acid, which have an acidic pH, exhibit the same viral susceptibility as non-vapers.

The study utilized airway stem cells from human donors to create a three-dimensional tissue model of human bronchial epithelium. These tissues were exposed to electronic cigarette aerosols to observe their impact on S-CoV-2 infection. Results showed an increase in the amount of ACE2, a host cell receptor for the S-CoV-2 virus, in all tissues. Additionally, TMPRSS2, an enzyme crucial for virus-cell infection, showed increased activity in tissues exposed to aerosols containing nicotine.

Professor Prue Talbot emphasized the importance of caution among electronic cigarette users, suggesting that certain products could heighten susceptibility to S-CoV-2 infection. Talbot recommended that vapers consider quitting vaping to safeguard their health and break nicotine dependency.