What organs can be affected by vaping?

September 28, 2025 •

4 min read

While often marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, scientific studies confirm that vaping introduces numerous harmful chemicals into the body. Experts warn that these substances can damage more than just the lungs, affecting multiple vital systems and causing widespread health problems. We explore what organs can be affected by vaping.

Quick Summary

Vaping can impact multiple organ systems, including the lungs, heart, and brain, due to the inhalation of nicotine, flavorings, and heavy metals. These chemicals can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and long-term damage throughout the body.

Key Points

Lungs are directly affected: Vaping aerosol can cause serious conditions like EVALI, permanent scarring (popcorn lung), and worsen asthma, as the ultrafine particles reach deep into the respiratory system.
Heart and blood vessels are at risk: Nicotine and other toxins raise blood pressure and heart rate, leading to arterial stiffness and increasing the likelihood of heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.
The brain is vulnerable, especially in youth: Nicotine is highly addictive and can permanently alter a developing brain, impacting reward systems, impulse control, attention, and potentially leading to mood disorders.
Other organs are not immune: Heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from heated vape liquid can accumulate and cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal system over time.
Long-term consequences are still emerging: Because vaping is a relatively recent phenomenon, the full scope of its long-term impact on various organ systems is not yet fully understood, highlighting the unknown risks involved.

The Lungs: The Most Direct and Vulnerable Target

When you inhale the aerosol from a vape device, the lungs are the first and most directly impacted organ. The vapor contains ultrafine particles that can travel deep into the respiratory system, causing a range of issues from acute injury to chronic disease. The notorious outbreak of E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) in 2019 brought this risk to public attention, with many cases linked to Vitamin E acetate found in some THC-containing products. However, even nicotine-only vapes can lead to significant pulmonary harm.

Acute vs. Chronic Lung Damage

Acute Injury: Symptoms of acute lung injury from vaping, such as EVALI, can develop rapidly and include coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, inflammation and fluid buildup can lead to respiratory failure, requiring hospitalization.
Chronic Conditions: Long-term vaping is linked to an increased risk of chronic lung diseases. The inhalation of chemicals like diacetyl, a flavoring agent, can lead to bronchiolitis obliterans (more commonly known as 'popcorn lung'), a irreversible condition that permanently scars the tiny airways in the lungs. Other chemicals like acrolein, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde also contribute to inflammation and damage, which can worsen existing conditions like asthma or increase the risk of developing chronic bronchitis.

The Cardiovascular System: Pumping Under Pressure

The effects of vaping are not confined to the respiratory system. The nicotine and other chemicals in vape aerosol enter the bloodstream and significantly affect the heart and blood vessels. Research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirms that long-term e-cigarette use can impair blood vessel function, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease.

The Impact on the Heart and Arteries

Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Nicotine is a stimulant that causes a temporary increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Chronic exposure can lead to sustained hypertension and an overworking of the cardiovascular system.
Endothelial Dysfunction: Vaping can cause endothelial dysfunction, a condition where the lining of the blood vessels (the endothelium) becomes damaged. This reduces the vessels' ability to relax and expand, leading to arterial stiffness and restricted blood flow. Over time, this can contribute to the formation of blood clots and plaque buildup, heightening the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Increased Heart Attack Risk: Studies have found that people who use e-cigarettes daily have a significantly higher risk of experiencing a heart attack. This risk is compounded for 'dual users' who also smoke traditional cigarettes.

The Brain: Altering Development and Function

The highly addictive substance, nicotine, is a neurotoxin that can have profound and lasting effects on the brain, particularly in adolescents and young adults whose brains are still developing. Nicotine can permanently alter neural pathways, impacting mood, impulse control, and learning capabilities. The CDC provides comprehensive information on the health effects of vaping.

Cognitive and Psychological Effects

Addiction and Dependence: The brain's reward system can become rewired by nicotine, leading to strong cravings and dependence. This can be more intense with vaping due to the high concentration of nicotine delivered by some devices.
Impulse Control: For young users, nicotine can impact the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for impulse control. This can lead to increased risk-taking behavior and mood disorders.
Neuroinflammation: Research from institutions like the University of California has shown that vaping can induce an inflammatory state in the brain, which can alter how it responds to infections and other stressors.

Beyond the Lungs, Heart, and Brain: Other Affected Organs

The systemic nature of vaping's impact means other organs are not safe from harm. The toxic cocktail of chemicals and heavy metals inhaled can circulate throughout the body, affecting multiple systems.

The Kidneys and Liver

Heavy Metal Accumulation: The aerosol can contain heavy metals like lead, chromium, and nickel. These metals can accumulate in the body over time and potentially cause long-term damage to the kidneys and liver, organs responsible for filtering toxins.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene found in vape aerosol are known to be toxic to the liver and kidneys when inhaled repeatedly.

The Gastrointestinal System

Oral and Throat Irritation: The chemicals can irritate the mouth, throat, and esophagus, leading to dryness and inflammation. Long-term use has been linked to potential harm to the oral mucosal lining.
Stomach Issues: Some users report gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting, which can be a sign of nicotine overdose or irritation from other aerosol components.

The Varied Dangers: Vaping vs. Traditional Smoking

While vaping is often presented as a safer alternative, it is not without significant health risks. The following table compares some of the effects on organ systems.


Feature	Traditional Cigarettes	Vaping / E-cigarettes
Mechanism	Combustion of tobacco releases thousands of chemicals, tar, and carbon monoxide.	Heating of e-liquid to produce an aerosol of nicotine, flavorings, and other substances.
Carcinogens	High levels of established carcinogens.	Contain some carcinogens (e.g., formaldehyde, acetaldehyde), though possibly fewer than cigarettes.
Heavy Metals	Yes, present in smoke.	Can be higher in aerosol due to heating elements leaching metals like lead and nickel.
Pulmonary Risk	High risk of COPD, lung cancer, and emphysema.	Risk of EVALI, 'popcorn lung', asthma exacerbation, and chronic lung damage.
Cardiovascular Risk	High risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.	Increased heart rate, blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction, and heart attack risk.
Addiction	Highly addictive due to nicotine.	Highly addictive due to often high, rapid-delivery nicotine concentrations.

A Complex and Evolving Landscape

The long-term effects of vaping are still being uncovered as the practice is relatively new. The lack of regulation and the vast array of devices and e-liquid formulations create a complex landscape for researchers. What is clear, however, is that vaping is not a harmless activity and can have widespread and detrimental effects on the body's major organ systems. Users expose themselves to a variety of toxins and addictive substances, risking everything from acute lung injury to long-term cardiovascular and neurological damage. The evidence shows that abstinence is the safest course of action to protect one's health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, especially in adolescents and young adults whose brains are still developing. Nicotine exposure can cause lasting changes to parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control, potentially leading to increased risk of addiction and mental health issues.

EVALI is E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury. While the 2019 outbreak was primarily linked to Vitamin E acetate, EVALI is still a risk. Any vaping can cause acute lung injury due to the inhalation of harmful substances, and cases continue to occur.

Yes. The nicotine in vape aerosol can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, contributing to arterial stiffness. This can lead to endothelial dysfunction and an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases, similar to what is seen with traditional smoking.

No. While nicotine-free vapes avoid nicotine's addictive effects, they still contain other harmful chemicals like flavorings, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds. When heated and inhaled, these can cause inflammation and damage to the lungs and other organs.

The heavy metals (e.g., lead, cadmium) and volatile organic compounds found in vape aerosol can be absorbed into the bloodstream. These toxic substances are filtered by the kidneys and liver, and their accumulation over time can potentially cause long-term damage to these vital organs.

While vaping may expose users to fewer chemicals than cigarette smoke, it is not harmless. Vaping introduces its own unique set of toxic chemicals and heavy metals, causing specific health risks, including severe lung injury, cardiovascular stress, and neurological effects. Both activities are harmful to multiple organ systems.

Yes. Some chemicals found in vape aerosol, such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, are known carcinogens. Long-term exposure to these substances can potentially increase the risk of developing certain cancers, including lung and throat cancer.