Vapers suffer ‘similar’ DNA damage to smokers – and it’s linked to lung cancer [Video]

VAPING may cause DNA damage similar to that inflicted by smoking tobacco, a study suggests.

It comes as ministers today table their plans to ban kids from smoking or vaping, plus a crackdown on e-cigarettes’ colourful packaging and flavours.

Scientists at University College London say their research shows vaping is not risk-free.

Analysis of 3,500 cheek cell samples found “significant” genetic changes in smokers that were linked to lung cancers and growths.

E-cigarette users were found to have the same changes, even if they had smoked fewer than 100 real cigarettes in their lives.

Study author Dr Chiara Herzog said: “We cannot say that e-cigarettes cause cancer based on our study, but we do see e-cigarette users exhibit some similar genetic changes to smokers.

“These changes are associated with future lung cancer development in smokers. 

“While the scientific opinion is that e-cigarettes are safer than smoking tobacco, we …