Kathmandu. Nicotine-containing vapes or electronic cigarettes may cause lung and oral cancer, a study has found.

The study, led by cancer researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia, found that vaping itself can cause cancer, which is not only a means of smoking.

The research, led by Associate Professor Bernard Stuart, included pharmacologists, epidemiologists, chest surgeons and public health experts.

An analysis of clinical studies, animal tests and laboratory data from 2017 to 2025 showed that vape smoke caused DNA damage, oxidative stress, tissue inflammation and lung tumours in mice.

The study also found various carcinogenic chemicals, flying organic matter, and metals released from heating coils in vape smoke.

According to study co-author Freddy Sittas, most people who use vapes to quit smoking eventually fall into both habits.

According to him, people who use both vape and cigarette are four times more likely to develop lung cancer.

However, it is not yet clear how many cancer cases this will cause, as long-term human studies are needed.

“E-cigarettes were introduced about 20 years ago. We don’t have to wait any longer to see the impact,” Sitas said.

He urged regulators not to repeat the history of the delay in recognising smoking as a cause of cancer.