Vaping, Environmental Toxicants Exposure, and Lung Cancer Risk

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Lung cancer (LC) is considered one of the most common cancers globally. Numerous studies have determined the relations between E-cigarette, or vaping, products (EVPs) and many proven environmental toxicants in LC development. Even though tobacco smoke remains the chief cause of LC, there is increasing concern that EVPs use could also increase LC risk. Consumption of EVPs has been dramatically increasing world-wide, particularly among younger people and non-smokers. This review seeks to consolidate the known environmental toxicants and EVPs contributing to LC to ensure that future research endeavors may identify key focus areas. Thus, EVPs are a highly potential risk factor for LC and an area of significant concern for the future. Since these factors have been linked to the development of LC, more research is needed to determine the mechanisms by which they affect lung pathology. Discovering the pathophysiology of EVPs use and environmental toxicant exposure in LC development can facilitate the adoption of exposure reduction strategies. ABSTRACT: Lung cancer (LC) is the second-most prevalent tumor worldwide. According to the most recent GLOBOCAN data, over 2.2 million LC cases were reported in 2020, with an estimated new death incident of 1,796,144 lung cancer cases. Genetic, lifestyle, and environmental exposure play an important role as risk factors for LC. E-cigarette, or vaping, products (EVPs) use has been dramatically increasing world-wide. There is growing concern that EVPs consumption may increase the risk of LC because EVPs contain several proven carcinogenic compounds. However, the relationship between EVPs and LC is not well established. E-cigarette contains nicotine derivatives (e.g., nitrosnornicotine, nitrosamine ketone), heavy metals (including organometal compounds), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and flavorings (aldehydes and complex organics). Several environmental toxicants have been proven to contribute to LC. Proven and plausible environmental carcinogens could be physical (ionizing and non-ionizing radiation), chemicals (such as asbestos, formaldehyde, and dioxins), and heavy metals (such as cobalt, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and nickel). Air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM) emitted from vehicles and industrial exhausts, is linked with LC. Although extensive environmental exposure prevention policies and smoking reduction strategies have been adopted globally, the dangers remain. Combined, both EVPs and toxic environmental exposures may demonstrate significant synergistic oncogenicity. This review aims to analyze the current publications on the importance of the relationship between EVPs consumption and environmental toxicants in the pathogenesis of LC.