Vaper, 49, suffers an incurable lung disease usually found in metal factory workers who spend decades inhaling toxic fumes
- E-cigarette smoker, from US, was diagnosed with hard-metal pneumoconiosis
- Caused permanent scarring in lungs, leaving her constantly gasping for breath
- First time rare illness linked to vaping – but experts say it could happen to others
A vaper has been diagnosed with an incurable form of lung scarring typically found in metal factory workers.
Doctors say the rare disease was likely caused by fumes from the heating coils used in the 49-year-old’s device.
It is the first time hard-metal pneumoconiosis has been linked to vaping. But medics from the University of California, who treated the unidentified patient, warn it should be seen as a new health risk for users.
The woman went to hospital after months of struggling for breath.
She was initially diagnosed with asthma and given an inhaler – but returned in a matter of weeks when her symptoms did not go away.
The patient was eventually diagnosed with hard-metal pneumoconiosis after a CT scan.
A vaper has been diagnosed with an incurable form of lung scarring typically found in metal factory workers. Her lung tissue under the microscope (left) compared to healthy tissue (right)
A CT scan revealed the disease had caused damaged lung tissue to engulf other cells and form ‘giant’ cells that can be seen clearly under a microscope (shown as large white lumps)
The condition creates a distinctive pattern of damage to the lungs that results in breathing difficulties.
It’s typically diagnosed in people who work with ‘hard metals’ like cobalt or tungsten, in jobs like tool sharpening, diamond polishing or making dental prosthetics.
It causes damaged lung cells to engulf other tissue and form ‘giant’ cells that can be seen clearly under a microscope.