Popcorn lung: Causes, symptoms, and treatment High School Cheerleader Left with 'Deadly Diagnosis' After Secretly Vaping for 3 Years Popcorn Lung (Bronchiolitis Obliterans): Causes & Treatment Canadian teen develops 'popcorn lung' like vaping illness, unlike U.S. patients Is Popcorn Lung Caused By Vaping? 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.