Rethinking Vaping Debunking "Popcorn Lung" myth and vape industry scare Charles A. Gardner, PhD posted on the topic LinkedIn Popcorn lung' may have brought teen close to death after vaping for months Stout Middle School Doctors have linked vaping to a rare, incurable lung condition called obliterative bronchiolitis, often referred to as popcorn lung. The disease permanently scars and narrows the lungs' airways, causing lifelong breathing problems. What Does Vaping Do to Your Lungs? Johns Hopkins Medicine