May 31 is World No Tobacco Day

Smoking as the most important risk factor for lung cancer

With over 50,000 new cases per year , lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in Germany and is usually caused by smoking. It is the second most common cancer in men and the third most common in women. Dr. med. Isabelle Bodmann from the Clinical Department of Pneumology at the MHH explains what happens to our lungs when we smoke or vape.

What actually happens to our lungs when we smoke?
"When we inhale cigarette smoke, more than 70 different carcinogenic substances enter the lungs. These substances accumulate there. The toxins in the smoke destroy the alveoli and damage the immune system. Gene mutations also occur in the lungs, which promote the development of cancer cells. Regular smoking irritates the bronchial system and increases the production of bronchial mucus. At the same time, the self-cleaning mechanism of the lungs is severely impaired: Cilia of the bronchial mucosa are destroyed. Their actual task, the removal of harmful substances, is made considerably more difficult as a result. The composition of the mucus also changes. These processes lead to a build-up of mucus in the lungs. This often makes it difficult for those affected to cough up," explains Dr. Bodmann .

The e-cigarette - a "healthier" alternative to conventional cigarettes?
Bodmann: "So far, there have only been a few studies on vaping and hardly any long-term observations. It can be said that although e-cigarettes contain fewer harmful substances than conventional cigarettes, vaping can also trigger lung diseases such as inflammatory reactions or contact allergies. We therefore strongly advise against switching from a normal cigarette to an e-cigarette."

What is harmful about vaping an e-cigarette?
"Flavored liquids are vaporized in an e-cigarette. The devices consist of a power source (battery), an electric heating element (nebulizer) and a cartridge for the liquid to be vaporized (liquid). The result is not smoke, but aerosol, which is inhaled and can irreversibly damage the lungs. When the liquids are heated, substances such as acetaldehyde and formaldehyde are produced. Due to the possibility of being able to individually adjust the voltage and thus the temperature of certain e-cigarette models, 5 to 14 times the amount of formaldehyde enters the lungs when vaping 3 ml of liquid, for example. This corresponds to an amount that would be absorbed when smoking 20 tobacco cigarettes - i.e. an entire packet."

"Party smokers" - "occasional smoking doesn't matter"?
"According to major epidemiological studies, there is no lower limit at which smoking is safe. In addition, occasional smokers run a high risk of becoming addicted and not just smoking occasionally. Therefore, party smoking is also not recommended!" says Dr. Bodmann.

(Interview on World No Tobacco Day 2020)