Levels of selected carcinogens and toxicants in vapour from electronic cigarettes

Abstract

Significance Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, are devices designed to imitate regular cigarettes and deliver nicotine via inhalation without combusting tobacco. They are purported to deliver nicotine without other toxicants and to be safer alternative to regular cigarettes. However, little toxicity testing has been performed to evaluate the chemical nature of vapor generated from e-cigarettes. The aim of this study was to screen e-cigarette vapors for content of four groups of potentially toxic and carcinogenic compounds: carbonyls, volatile organic compounds, nitrosamines, and heavy metals. Materials and methods Vapors were generated from 12 brands of e-cigarettes and the reference product, the medicinal nicotine inhaler, in controlled conditions using a modified smoking machine. The selected toxic compounds were extracted from vapors into a solid or liquid phase and analyzed with chromatographic and spectroscopy methods. Results We found that the e-cigarette vapors contained some toxic substances. The levels of the toxicants were 9 to 450 times lower than in cigarette smoke and were, in many cases, comparable to trace amounts found in the reference product. Conclusions Our findings are consistent with the idea that substituting tobacco cigarettes with electronic cigarettes may substantially reduce exposure to selected tobacco-specific toxicants. E-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy among smokers unwilling to quit warrants further study.

The Regulatory Challenge of Electronic Cigarettes

“…5 Although a number of toxicants have been identif ied in e-cigarette vapors, the levels of these toxicants are orders of magnitude lower than those found in cigarette smoke, although higher than those found in NRT. 6 Although it cannot be said that currently marketed e-cigarettes are safe, e-cigarette vapor is likely to be much less toxic than cigarette smoke. Among the questions that should be considered by the FDA are (1) Do low levels of contaminants in e-cigarette vapor pose a health risk?…”

Hormonal contraception among electronic cigarette users and cardiovascular risk: a systematic review

“…While propylene glycol exposure has been associated with eye and respiratory irritation, no evidence links exposure with adverse cardiovascular outcomes [10,65], and ingestion is generally considered safe [66]. Glycerin ingestion is also generally recognized as safe [67], but heated glycerin can produce acrolein, which may be associated with adverse cardiovascular risk [13,68,69].…”

“…One study analyzed EC aerosol for carcinogens and toxicants and detected formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, volatile organic compounds, tobacco-specific nitrosamines and metals (cadmium, nickel and lead). The presence of these toxicants was found to be lower in ECs than in conventional cigarettes but higher compared with nicotine inhaler mist [10,13]. E-liquid nicotine levels also varied by brand and type, with many containing 6-24-mg nicotine/mL e-liquid [14].…”

“…In a 2012 survey of members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (n=252), 13.5% of respondents reported that they believed ECs had no health effects, and 36.5% of respondents (n=92) reported that they did not know the health effects of EC use [43]. Given the increase in EC use in the United States and the popularity of HC, especially CHCs, family planning providers may increasingly see EC users who wish to initiate or continue CHCs.…”

Comment on E-Cigarettes and Cardiovascular Risk: Beyond Science and Mysticism

“…Lack of long-term studies cannot be a valid argument to support that e-cigarettes should be banned or restricted, especially because we know that the levels of toxins emitted from e-cigarette use are minimal and by orders of magnitude lower compared with tobacco cigarettes. 12,13 In some cases, exposure to toxic chemicals is similar to pharmaceutical NRTs. 14 Nicotine intake is unlikely to significantly elevate harm; health organizations such as the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the United Kingdom are currently proposing the long-term use of nicotine (in the form of NRTs) as a substitute for smoking, acknowledging that a significant proportion of smokers are unable to quit with currently approved medications.…”