BEWARE: New study shows e-cigarettes may cause skull deformities in fetuses

A recent study has revealed that vaping e-cigarettes may have far more severe effects than previously understood — including causing skull malformations in developing fetuses, even when nicotine-free.

While earlier research linked e-cigarette use to shortened lifespans, a dulled sense of taste, and the accumulation of black deposits in the lungs, new evidence now points to alarming developmental consequences for unborn children.

Researchers at Ohio State University exposed pregnant mice to vapor from e-cigarettes containing propylene glycol and glycerol — the two primary ingredients used to produce vapor.

The results were disturbing: newborn mice exhibited skull abnormalities, such as shortened skulls, narrow facial features, and significantly lower birth weights.

What shocked researchers further was that the most pronounced deformities occurred in mice exposed to a higher-glycerol mixture (70% glycerol, 30% propylene glycol). This formulation is widely marketed as a “safer” alternative by e-cigarette manufacturers, contradicting existing assumptions and raising concerns about misleading advertising.

The study underscores a critical health risk: the demographic most likely to use e-cigarettes — individuals aged 18 to 24 — also represents the age group most likely to become parents. Skull development in fetuses begins early in pregnancy, often before a woman realizes she is expecting. This means inadvertent exposure during this crucial stage could lead to irreversible effects.

These findings align with growing concerns from health authorities such as the American Heart Association, which warns that the rise in e-cigarette use among youth constitutes a “serious threat to public health.” Most e-cigarette products also contain harmful substances including addictive nicotine, diacetyl (linked to lung disease), and heavy metals like nickel, tin, and lead.

Published in the journal PLOS One, the study concludes that although e-cigarettes may be less harmful than traditional cigarettes, they are far from safe — particularly for pregnant women and their unborn children. The results call for urgent further research into the biological mechanisms through which these non-nicotine components affect fetal development.