Electronic cigarettes enabling
enhanced airflow have grown in popularity in recent years. The objective
of this study is to show that flow rates modulate the levels of specific
aerosol toxicants produced in electronic cigarettes. Flow rates used
in various laboratory investigations involving e-cigarettes have varied
widely to date, and can thus promote interlaboratory variability in
aerosol product profiles. The thermal decomposition of hydroxyacetone
and glycolaldehyde is less favorable at lower temperatures, supporting
the observations of these products at higher flow rates/lower heating
coil temperatures. Higher temperatures promote the formation of acetaldehyde
from hydroxyacetone and formaldehyde from both hydroxyacetone and
glycolaldehyde. A separate finding is that greater airflow can also
expose users to concerning levels of e-liquid solvents. Under the
modest conditions studied, propylene glycol aerosol levels are found
at above the acceptable inhalation levels defined by NASA, and in
range of the generally recognized as safe levels for daily ingestion.
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