Passive Exposure to Pollutants from a New Generation of Cigarettes in Real Life Scenarios

Abstract

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heat-not-burn tobacco (HNBT), as popular nicotine delivery systems (NDS), has increased among adult demographics. This study aims to assess the effects on indoor air quality of traditional tobacco cigarettes (TCs) and new smoking alternatives, to determine the differences between their potential impacts on human health. Measurements of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5 and PM10), black carbon, carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were performed in two real life scenarios, in the home and in the car. The results indicated that the particle emissions from the different NDS devices were significantly different. In the home and car, the use of TCs resulted in higher PM10 and ultrafine particle concentrations than when e-cigarettes were smoked, while the lowest concentrations were associated with HNBT. As black carbon and CO are released by combustion processes, the concentrations of these two pollutants were significantly lower for e-cigarettes and HNBT because no combustion occurs when they are smoked. CO2 showed no increase directly associated with the NDS but a trend linked to a higher respiration rate connected with smoking. The results showed that although the levels of pollutants emitted by e-cigarettes and HNBT are substantially lower compared to those from TCs, the new smoking devices are still a source of indoor air pollutants.

Comparative Indoor Pollution from Glo, Iqos, and Juul, Using Traditional Combustion Cigarettes as Benchmark: Evidence from the Randomized SUR-VAPES AIR Trial

“…Indeed, by minimizing combustion (HNBC) or avoiding it altogether (EVC), MRP may profoundly reduce the risks associated with smoking, for instance, by reducing emissions of particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], despite still delivering nicotine, with its established detrimental clinical effects [ 15 ]. Intriguingly, while EVC would theoretically appear less toxic than HNBC given the vaporization methods, the possible presence of volatile toxic agents may undermine such purported benefits [ 10 , 16 ].…”

The product science of electrically heated tobacco products: a narrative review of the scientific literature

“…Most of these studies have reported on IAQ levels before, during and after heated tobacco product use within an experimental indoor environment, with a single study reporting on IAQ levels during and after experimentally controlled heated tobacco product use within a non-operational nightclub which featured an external smoking area (Kaunelienė et al, 2019). Two additional studies reported on heated tobacco product use within different models of passenger car (Schober et al, 2019;Savdie et al, 2020) whilst a single study detailed the effects of heated tobacco product use on outdoor air quality (Cammalleri et al, 2020).…”

Integrated Human Exposure to Air Pollution

“…In the last years, the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heat-not-burn tobacco (HNBT) has been widely adopted as popular nicotine delivery systems (NDS), mainly among adult demographics. A study aimed to understand the effect on indoor air quality by traditional tobacco cigarettes (TCs) and new smoking alternatives, focusing in a multi-pollutant approach (particulate matter, black carbon—BC, carbon monoxide—CO—and carbon dioxide—CO 2 ) in two real life scenarios: home and car [ 10 ]. Results showed that particle emissions between the different NDS were significantly different, with TCs corresponding to higher PM10 and ultrafine particle concentrations and HNBT corresponding to the lowest levels registered.…”