Study shows harm to health from vaping Even though they are banned in Brazil, electronic cigarettes continue to be consumed, especially among young people. A study conducted by medical students at the Universidade Regional Integrada (URI), in Erechim, in the North of RS, identified changes in different organs after exposure to the device's vapor. "The study shows that, even in a short time and with a dose considered low, electronic cigarettes are not harmless", points out physiotherapist Luana Carla Zambon. 📲 Access the g1 RS channel on WhatsApp The results, however, are preliminary, obtained in an animal study and have not yet been published in a scientific journal or peer-reviewed. The work integrates course completion projects and also postgraduate studies in Comprehensive Health Care at the institution. The search Research on electronic cigarette use carried out with laboratory rats Reproduction/ RBS TV The research was carried out with laboratory rats, which were exposed to steam twice a day, for 30 days. The analysis sought to understand how inhaling the substance can affect the body. In total, 30 young animals were used, 15 in the control group and 15 exposed to steam. The study was previously approved by an ethics committee for the use of animals, a mandatory step for carrying out experiments of this type. For the professor and study coordinator, Fernanda Dal’Maso Camera, the results caught attention: "We found several changes in the group that was exposed to electronic cigarettes. Important changes that worry us because this study was carried out in an unprecedented way, the first carried out with young animals and we have already noticed major changes in different organs", he states After the exposure period, the animals were euthanized for detailed analysis of structures such as the heart, aorta, kidneys, prostate, bladder and brain. The researchers performed histological and biochemical examinations and assessed cardiac function. Among the findings are signs of oxidative stress, the presence of inflammatory markers and changes in the structure of the heart muscle, in addition to reduced heart function. Changes in the kidneys were also observed. "We researched and saw that there were histological and inflammatory changes in the renal glomeroli, we were able to highlight several changes and this compromises the function of the kidney", explains Neiva de Oliveira Prestes, master in Comprehensive Health Care. In the analysis of the aorta, there was a reduction in the caliber of the blood vessel. According to medical academic Diandro Amaral, this could have future consequences. "Vasoconstriction means that the organ has reduced its caliber and this will have a future impact on blood pressure. It may also be involved in the development of atherosclerotic disease, acute myocardial infarction", he explains. Organ functioning Electronic cigarette Reproduction/ RBS TV The results reinforce the concern about the effects of electronic cigarettes on the body. The study indicates that its use can harm the functioning of organs and accelerate aging processes. Another point of attention is the presence of nicotine in the devices, often in high concentrations, which increases the potential for dependence. IBGE data show that 29.6% of Brazilian students between 13 and 17 years old have already tried the product. "I used to go to the gym and, once I was training, I felt really short of breath. Even when I sent longer audios, I noticed that I was short of breath and I had to stop to breathe to send a simple one-minute audio. At that time, I realized that something was wrong and decided to stop", says Júlio César Alba Melle, 22 years old. Júlio started using it as a teenager and maintained the habit for four years, until he noticed impacts on his health. The interruption, however, was not simple. "It was a difficult transition because one of the methods I used to stop was precisely distancing myself from this group of friends. I had to stay away from people a lot, stop going to some places where people smoked and I always ended up smoking with them", he reveals. Results The team is now working on publishing the results and intends to continue the investigations. According to the coordination, the scientific article is in the writing phase and must be submitted to an international journal, not yet defined, possibly by August. "These data are unprecedented, it is a study that no other study has done, in the way it was done. And the next step is to continue research so that we can work with slightly more intense protocols", says coordinator Fernanda. VIDEOS: Everything about RS