Vaping speeds up the death of lung cells by 50 fold and could trigger lung diseases in later life, a new study suggests.

Scientists at the University of Birmingham found that the vapour inhaled from e-cigarettes damages immune cells, preventing them from clearing out harmful bacteria.

The researchers said changes to lung tissue were similar to those seen in regular smokers and found the vapour triggered the effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an umbrella term for diseases including severe bronchitis, asthma and emphysema.

David Thickett, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Birmingham’s Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, said: “Where I live there is a vaping shop with a poster which says ‘save your lungs, switch to vaping’ and what we are saying is we don’t believe that’s true.

“If you vape for 20 to 30 years and it can cause COPD then that’s something we need to know about.