Vaping linked to teen's 'popcorn lung' type injury Health experts are sounding the alarm about a serious condition linked to vaping, known as "popcorn lung" or bronchiolitis obliterans. This irreversible lung disease is caused by harmful chemicals, like diacetyl, found Popcorn lung. Vaping lung injury. Lets stop confusing the two., Popcorn lung is the lazy name for bronchiolitis obliteransa disease of the small airways, not the alveoli. , It got its name from Lungs After Smoking: Understanding Popcorn Lung from Vaping Imaging Findings of Vaping Associated Lung Injury AJR