The Mysterious Vaping Illness That's 'Becoming an Epidemic' The New York Times Did you know vaping and e cigarettes can lead to a condition called Popcorn Lung? Vaping may sound harmless, but it can seriously impact your breathing over time. Learn what causes it, how Smoking and vaping are often compared, but neither is harmless. While they work differently, both can expose the lungs to addictive nicotine and harmful chemicals that impact breathing and overall health. Smoking Does Vaping Lead to Smoking?