Imagine thinking you’re enjoying harmless flavored e-cigarettes, only to discover they could be silently harming your lungs. That’s the warning behind the growing concern over “popcorn lung,” a serious and irreversible condition officially known as bronchiolitis obliterans. Once linked to factory workers who inhaled butter-flavoring fumes in microwave popcorn plants, this rare disease has resurfaced in alarming new ways — this time connected to vaping.
Popcorn lung damages the smallest airways in the lungs, called bronchioles, by causing inflammation and permanent scarring. The main culprit is a chemical called diacetyl — once used to give foods a buttery taste, and now found in some flavored e-liquids. When inhaled, it can become toxic, leading to persistent coughing, shortness of breath, and a heavy, constricted feeling in the chest. Over time, these symptoms worsen, and since the damage cannot be reversed, treatment focuses only on managing discomfort rather than curing the disease.
Health experts are especially worried because vaping is most popular among young adults. In many regions, there are now more people under 30 using vapes than traditional cigarettes. Despite regulations banning diacetyl in some countries, illegal and unregulated products often slip through, exposing users to unknown risks. Researchers are still studying how vaping impacts long-term health, but early signs point to an increased risk of lung irritation and potential long-term damage similar to that seen in popcorn factory workers decades ago.
The symptoms of popcorn lung can appear weeks or months after exposure, including a dry cough, fatigue, wheezing, and difficulty breathing during exercise. Because there’s no cure, prevention is crucial. Avoiding unregulated vape products, being cautious with flavored e-liquids, and paying attention to early breathing problems can make a life-saving difference. The lesson is clear — what might seem like harmless vapor can have very real, lasting consequences.