You may have ditched cigarettes in favor of vaping, believing it’s a safer alternative—especially if your vape doesn’t contain nicotine. But new findings suggest that even nicotine-free vaping may pose serious health risks, particularly to your heart and blood vessels.
The Safety Myth of Nicotine-Free Vapes
Traditional cigarettes are known to contain thousands of toxic substances, including carcinogens and tar. E-cigarettes, by comparison, don’t produce smoke and don’t burn tobacco. This difference led many to assume they were a much safer option—especially those that are nicotine-free.
But that assumption is being seriously challenged.
A 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that nicotine-free vapes still significantly impair vascular function. Even in individuals who have never smoked before, exposure to vape aerosols—nicotine or not—was associated with reduced blood vessel health and potential long-term cardiovascular issues.
What Is Vaping—And What’s in That Vapor?
Vaping devices, or e-cigarettes, work by heating a liquid into an aerosol that’s inhaled into the lungs. This liquid usually contains a mix of:
- Propylene glycol
- Vegetable glycerin
- Flavorings
- Optional nicotine
While propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin are generally recognized as safe for ingestion, inhalation is a different story. When heated, these substances can break down into toxic compounds such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, which are known to cause lung and airway irritation.
Potential effects include:
- Chronic cough
- Shortness of breath
- Lung inflammation
Flavors Add More Than Just Taste
Flavored vapes are especially popular among young users, but the flavoring agents can bring a host of additional dangers. Among the most concerning ingredients:
- Diacetyl – linked to bronchiolitis obliterans, a debilitating lung disease also known as “popcorn lung”
- Benzaldehyde – can irritate the respiratory tract
- Heavy metals – like nickel, tin, and lead, which can leach from the heating coils into the vapor
Even in the absence of nicotine, these ingredients can contribute to long-term lung damage and potentially impact other organ systems.
“We’re finding that people are exposing themselves to chemicals we don’t fully understand—and many of them are likely harmful,” warned Dr. Michael Blaha, Director of Clinical Research at Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.
A Rapidly Growing Trend, Especially Among Teens
Despite growing concerns, vaping continues to rise—particularly among teens and young adults. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 2.1 million U.S. middle and high school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2024. The majority preferred flavored vapes.
This trend alarms public health experts, who worry that vaping may serve as a gateway to lifelong nicotine dependence—or even traditional tobacco use.
“What worries me is seeing young people who never smoked a cigarette become regular vape users,” said Dr. Blaha. “It’s a different conversation when you’re quitting smoking. But starting with vaping can lead to addiction and health problems of its own.”
The 2024 Study: Vaping’s Impact on Blood Vessels
In a landmark 2024 study, researchers examined how vaping—with and without nicotine—affects blood vessel function. The study included three groups:
- People who vaped with nicotine
- People who vaped without nicotine
- Traditional cigarette smokers
Surprisingly, all three groups experienced a measurable decline in vascular function shortly after using their respective products. Those who used nicotine vapes showed the greatest reduction, followed by those who vaped nicotine-free products—still showing significant damage compared to baseline.
“These results suggest that vaping isn’t just a benign alternative to smoking—it has real, measurable effects on the body,” said Dr. Marianna Nabbout, one of the study’s authors. “Even a single session of vaping, whether or not it includes nicotine, can impair how your blood vessels function.”
Rethinking the Vape Habit
If you made the switch to vaping thinking it was the healthier choice—especially without nicotine—it may be time to reconsider. The latest science is clear: nicotine-free doesn’t mean risk-free.
Whether you’re a former smoker or someone who picked up vaping recreationally, it’s worth examining the full picture of health consequences now coming to light.
What’s your take on the new research?
Share this article with someone who vapes—and help spread awareness about the hidden dangers of even nicotine-free vaping.
