WHO Report Flags 15 Million Teen Vapers, Experts Warn of Health Risks

A recent WHO study reveals that children are, on average, nine times more likely than adults to vape. Experts share how vaping has similar effects as traditional smoking.

By Dr. Srivatsa Lokeshwaran

NEW DELHI (India CSR): According to a recent study released by the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 15 million children aged 13 to 15 are using E-cigarettes worldwide. The study, released on October 6, 2025 warns about the rise in nicotine addiction among teens, with children in countries with data being nine times more likely than adults to vape.

For the first time, the WHO includes a global estimate of e-cigarette consumption and finds alarming numbers, with more than 100 million people worldwide vaping. The findings are based on 2034 national surveys, covering 97% of the global population, and consisting of trends in prevalence of tobacco use from 2000 to 2024 and projections for 2025 to 2030.

The report warns against the common belief that vaping is less harmful than traditional cigarettes, emphasising how it has similar and dangerous effects, especially on teenagers and pregnant women.

To discuss the specific health risks associated with vaping, and how it affects vulnerable populations, such as youth, pregnant women, and other related issues we reached out to concern health experts.

Rise Of E-cigarettes

The report reveals that the global number of tobacco consumers has decreased considerably, and the tobacco industry is continually pushing new products, including e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products.

The number of tobacco users has dropped from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024. Since 2010, the number of people using tobacco has dropped by 120 million – a 27% drop in relative terms. Yet, tobacco still hooks one in five adults globally, fuelling millions of preventable deaths every year.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, shares, “Millions of people are stopping tobacco use thanks to tobacco control efforts by countries around the world,”
According to Etienne Krug, WHO Director of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention Department, “E-cigarettes are fuelling a new wave of nicotine addiction. “They are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.”

Impact On Lung And Cardiovascular Health

Although e-cigarettes differ from traditional cigarettes, they carry specific risks for overall health. According to experts, vaping reduces exposure to some tobacco-smoke carcinogens, but adds certain toxicants and unexplained long-term hazards.

Dr Amol Akhade, Senior Consultant Oncologist, Fortis Hospital Mumbai shares, “E-cigarettes expose users to fewer carcinogens than traditional cigarettes but still contain nicotine, ultrafine particles, and toxic flavour chemicals. They can cause nicotine addiction, airway irritation, and oxidative stress.”

For the lungs, vaping exposes the airway and lung tissue to harmful chemicals
that create irritation, inflammation, and may increase the risk of lung cancer over
time.

Dr Vaishnavi Joshi, Consultant, Medical Oncology & Haemato, Oncology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore underscores the risk further saying, “For the heart and blood vessels, nicotine in e-cigarettes can raise blood pressure and promote arterial damage, which indirectly affects overall health.”

Dr Sanjay Bhat, Sr. Consultant – Interventional Cardiology, Aster CMI Hospital,
Bangalore, states that e-cigarettes impact the heart and lungs in several ways. “Nicotine raises blood pressure, increases heart rate, and causes arterial stiffness, which can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems.”

“For the lungs, vaping may cause irritation, inflammation, and reduced lung function, indirectly affecting oxygen supply to the heart,” He further added.

Dr Akhade highlights the risk of EVALI (vaping-associated lung injury), saying, “Vaping not only causes airway inflammation but also increases the possibility of bronchial injury, and endothelial dysfunction.”

Cancer Risk

According to health experts, there is a biological basis and growing evidence that vaping carries cancer risks. Dr Joshi elaborates on the same saying, “E-cigarettes contain chemicals such as formaldehyde, acrolein, and heavy metals that can damage DNA and potentially increase the risk of cancers of the lung, mouth, throat, and bladder.”

Dr Srivatsa Lokeshwaran, Lead Consultant and Head of Department – Interventional Pulmonology and Lung Transplant, Aster Whitefield Hospital stresses the same point, saying, “The most important issue is that the carcinogenic risk associated with e-cigarettes in the long run is still unknown, as e-liquids and aerosols contain cancer-causing or potential oncogenic agents and biomarkers related to cancer risk.“

Effects On Vulnerable People

E-cigarettes pose more severe risks for vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, and individuals already living with chronic diseases.

Dr Lokeshwaran speaks about the risks, saying, “For pregnant women, nicotine and other toxic substances in e-cigarette vapour can harm fetal development, potentially affect organ formation and increase cancer risk later in life.” “Individuals with pre-existing conditions, such as a history of cancer or genetic susceptibility, are at higher risk because vaping adds chemical exposures that can trigger DNA damage and increase recurrence or new cancers,” he continues.

According to Dr Joshi, in youth, vaping can harm developing lungs and brains, increase nicotine addiction, and act as a gateway to traditional smoking.

Conclusion

In line with the WHO report’s findings, health experts warn that vaping poses similar harmful effects on human health to traditional smoking, highlighting the importance of avoiding all forms of inhaled nicotine. To safeguard the overall health, experts advise against even occasional consumption to protect the heart and well-being.