A new study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research found that those using e cigarettes alone were more than twice as likely to develop COPD than people who didn't use any tobacco products, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Cigarette smoke can reprogram cells in your airways, causing pulmonary disease to hang on after smoking ends Are E Cigarettes a Safe Alternative to Smoking? Using Airway Cell Cultures to Assess Early Indicators of COPD Progression Inquiries Journal