Alarming new concerns about e-cigarettes discovered — thanks to vaping zebrafish
Zebrafish studies reveal that vaping alters gut microbiota and affects brain function, raising concerns about its health risks.Summary
New research utilizing zebrafish has uncovered alarming health risks associated with e-cigarettes, despite their marketing as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. The study, published in *Science of The Total Environment*, found that exposure to e-cigarette liquid, even without nicotine, alters gut bacteria and impacts brain structure and function in zebrafish. Specifically, harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, produced when heating e-cigarettes, cause changes in gut microbiomes, leading to an increase in harmful bacteria and a decrease in those essential for gut health. These gut changes subsequently affect the fish’s behavior and escape responses. While the study was conducted on animals, it reinforces mounting evidence linking e-cigarettes to potential organ failure, heart disease, brain issues, impaired fitness, and serious lung damage, prompting the American Heart Association to label the rise in youth vaping a “serious public health threat.”
(Source：New York Post)
