E-Zigaretten: gesundheitliche Bewertung und potenzieller Nutzen für Raucher

Abstract

E-cigarettes are electronic devices used to vaporize a flavored liquid resulting in aerosols to be inhaled by the user. The high variety of e-cigarettes and liquids makes it difficult to assess the health effects of e-cigarette use. The ingredients of the liquids - apart from nicotine - are generally recognized as safe for oral and dermal use, however, toxicological data on health effects upon chronic inhalation are missing. Studies have detected several harmful substances in e-cigarette aerosol, including carcinogens, but in lower concentrations than tobacco smoke. Evidence suggests that e-cigarette use entails acute health effects such as inflammatory responses in the lung. In animal and in vitro studies e-cigarette aerosol showed adverse effects like cytotoxicity, increased infiltration of inflammatory cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines, increased oxidative stress and moderate inflammation. Compared to tobacco smoking e-cigarettes are very likely to be less harmful, however, due to scarce data the extent of harm reduction cannot be quantified. Although smokers often use e-cigarettes to quit smoking, currently they are not approved as smoking cessation aids. As e-cigarette aerosol is a new source of air pollution, it is reasonable to assume that it poses an increased health risk to bystanders, in particular to vulnerable persons such as children and people with health conditions. E-cigarettes can have a positive effect on public health, if many smokers completely switch from smoking tobacco to e-cigarettes and, finally, also stop e-cigarette use, and if at the same time adverse consequences (such as increased initiation among youths) remain limited.

Health hazards and complications associated with electronic cigarettes: a review

“…The cartridge typically houses a liquid consisting of propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin, water, and a sweetener. The resulting aerosol consists of fine and ultrafine liquid particles that may include formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, reactive oxygen compounds, and metals such as nickel, chromium, or lead, depending on the sweeteners and flavors added to the liquid [10]. These pollutants are usually present in the EC aerosol in much smaller amounts than those in tobacco smoke but can be present at similar or higher concentrations under certain operating conditions [10].…”

“…The resulting aerosol consists of fine and ultrafine liquid particles that may include formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, reactive oxygen compounds, and metals such as nickel, chromium, or lead, depending on the sweeteners and flavors added to the liquid [10]. These pollutants are usually present in the EC aerosol in much smaller amounts than those in tobacco smoke but can be present at similar or higher concentrations under certain operating conditions [10]. Formaldehyde is present in ECs in concentrations similar to lead and chromium concentrations in tobacco cigarettes, whereas nickel was found to be present at higher concentrations [11].…”

Der Verlauf des E-Zigarettenkonsums im Jugendalter: Eine Kohortenstudie über 18 Monate

“…E-Zigaretten sind zu kurz auf dem Markt, um seriös mittelund langfristige Auswirkungen auf die Gesundheit abschätzen zu können. Eine populäre Annahme ist, dass E-Zigaretten eine Schadensminimierungsfunktion im Vergleich zur Tabakzigarette haben könnten, wenn Raucher ganz auf die E-Zigarette umsteigen [22]. Die vorliegenden Untersuchungsergebnisse legen nahe, dass Single Use im Jugendalter nicht nur das seltenere Verhaltensmuster ist, sondern im Laufe des Beobachtungszeitraums eine nicht unerhebliche Anzahl Single User zusätzlich zur E-Zigarette begann, auch Tabak zu konsumieren.…”

Addictive inhalants—A challenge for the lungs

“…Das BfR in Deutschland und eine Forschungsgruppe am „National Institut für Public Health“ (NIPH) in Japan wiesen nach, dass der Gehalt an bestimmten Karbonylverbindungen in den Emissionen des Tabakerhitzers IQOS gegenüber herkömmlichen Tabakzigaretten um 80–96 % und die Gehalte an flüchtigen und semiflüchtigen Verbindungen sogar um 97–99 % niedriger liegen als in den Emissionen konventioneller Zigaretten [ 23 , 24 ]. Allerdings enthalten Aerosole von Tabakerhitzern auch Substanzen, die im Rauch herkömmlicher Tabakzigaretten nicht vorkommen [ 25 ]. So fanden Davis et al.…”

“…Im Hinblick auf die Suchtentwicklung

Suchtentwicklung

muss von einem ähnlich süchtig machenden Potenzial der Tabakerhitzer wie für Tabakzigaretten ausgegangen werden, da der Nikotingehalt im Aerosol von Tabakerhitzern gleich hoch oder nur unwesentlich geringer als im Rauch von herkömmlichen Zigaretten ist [ 25 ].…”