Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C48knL7relJ/ Those who use e-cigarettes suffer the same epigenetic and potentially carcinogenic DNA changes as tobacco smokers.  So say British and Swiss researchers after their study of 3500 cheek tissue cell samples. Epigenetic changes are inherited factors that affect the function of the cell’s main genetic material without actually modifying chromosomal structure.  One common epigenetic modification is addition of a methyl chemical group to the DNA, and this change often leads to unwanted genetic behavior including the development of the uncontrolled cell growth and migration typical of cancer.  This DNA methylation is often the consequence of environmental chemical exposures. The analysis of cheek cells from e-cigarette users and tobacco smoker reveal similar levels of DNA methylation.  These same epigenetic changes have been observed in lung cancer cells. This study contradicts the oft stated conclusion that e-cigarette smoking is significantly safer than tobac