OHIO, USA (Kashmir English): A recent study has shown that vaping during pregnancy, even in the absence of nicotine, may cause changes in the structural development of a baby’s skull in the womb.
The study, conducted on pregnant mice, by researchers at Ohio State University College of Medicine, examined the impact of two commonly used ingredients in e-cigarette liquids—propylene glycol and glycerol—on prenatal development.
The findings warned that exposure to these substances, even without nicotine, can potentially undermine fetal bone growth.
“Our findings were surprising,” said Dr James Cray, lead researcher and professor at Ohio State University. “The e-cigarettes used in our study did not contain nicotine, yet we observed notable effects on skull development in the models.”
The research involved controlled exposure to different concentrations of propylene glycol and glycerol—liquid components typically found in vaping products.
Pregnant mice were divided into three groups: one exposed to filtered air, and two others subjected to vapour containing either a 50:50 or 70:30 ratio of glycerol to propylene glycol.
Over a 20-day gestation period, the mice in the test groups were exposed to one puff of vapour per minute, for four hours a day, five days a week.
The researchers observed that the offspring exposed to the 70:30 concentration mixture had significantly smaller skull measurements compared to the other two groups, indicating potential craniofacial developmental disruptions.
Even nicotine-free vaping is harmful
“This raises concerns about the safety of vaping during pregnancy, even when nicotine is not present,” Dr Cray noted. “There is a general perception that nicotine-free vaping is harmless, but our data suggest otherwise.”
The researchers are yet to confirm if vaping has similar effects in humans as the study was conducted on animals.
Still further research is needed in this regard but the findings so far are expected to initiate debate over the regulation and public perception of vaping products, especially among expectant mothers.
The use of e-cigarette has increased worldwide in recent years, with many users taking it as a safer alternative to traditional tobacco smoking.
However, health experts continue to warn about the long-term effects of vaping, particularly in vulnerable groups such as pregnant women.
“Pregnancy is a delicate period, and any exposure to foreign substances—nicotine or otherwise—should be approached with extreme caution,” Dr Cray said.
