Counterintuitively it is often times just as bad. The flavoring used in many e-cigs, specifically propylene glycol. These chemicals illicit specific body responses that are associated with causing cancer and other critical ailments. Vapor of any kind is not good or helpful to the lungs, damage is prone with or without the presence of nicotine in the vapor. Nicotine is actually one of the least harmful ingredients of a cigarette or e-cig besides it's addictive qualities.