A reported case involving 17-year-old Nevada cheerleader Brianne Cullen has renewed concerns about the potential health risks of vaping. According to her family, she was hospitalized after struggling to breathe during cheerleading practice and was diagnosed with bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly known as “popcorn lung.” Her story highlights why young people should take vaping seriously, although a direct link between vaping and her diagnosis has not been scientifically established.

Popcorn lung is a rare, serious condition in which tiny airways become scarred and narrowed, making breathing increasingly difficult. It has been strongly associated with inhaling diacetyl, a flavoring chemical used in food production. A 2015 Harvard study detected diacetyl in 39 of 51 flavored e-cigarette products tested, while at least one of three potentially harmful flavoring chemicals appeared in 47. These findings raised concerns about what people might inhale through flavored vaping products.

The danger isn’t limited to one chemical. Vape aerosols can contain nicotine, flavoring compounds, and other substances that may harm the respiratory system. Vaping is also not harmless simply because it may expose users to fewer toxic chemicals than traditional cigarette smoke. Importantly, food-safe does not automatically mean safe to inhale.

There is no cure for popcorn lung, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms and limiting further damage. Cullen’s reported experience is a reminder that the long-term effects of inhaling vaping chemicals deserve serious attention. Sweet flavors and attractive packaging don’t make vaping safe, especially for teenagers whose lungs are still developing.