Does Vaping Cannabis Cause Popcorn Lung? HelloMD Experts show that flavored e cigarettes cause irreversible lung damage. A U.S. teen developed "popcorn lung" after secretly vaping for 3 years a permanent, life altering disease. Officially known as bronchiolitis obliterans, the New lung scans prove vaping is toxic. The science is officially in. Scans show that teens have developed "popcorn lung" as a result of vaping. It's a permanent, chronic disease that shortens Popcorn lung: What is it, and who is at risk? Harvard Health