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E-cigarettes and Vaping Products: Health Effects and Toxicological Impacts

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (21 January 2025) | Viewed by 11203

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Nursing, University of California, 700 Tiverton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Interests: electronic nicotine delivery systems; combustible tobacco; biomarkers of exposure; cardiovascular physiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are battery-operated devices that deliver vaporized nicotine, flavors and other chemicals, without any combustion. E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, with current exclusive use among those who have never used combustible products—including cigarettes—to be increasing exponentially in recent years (from 1.4% in 2014 to 9.2% in 2019). Not surprisingly, the majority of current e-cigarette users report using flavored ENDS, with fruit being the most common flavor type. For this Special Issue, we invite authors to contribute studies that focus on the short-term and long-term health effects and toxicological impacts of e-cigarettes, particularly on the cardiovascular, respiratory and reproductive systems. Manuscripts that deal with second-hand exposure to aerosol from ENDS are also encouraged. We also seek studies focusing on electronic nicotine devices in addition to e-cigarettes, including e-cigars, e-pipes and e-hookahs, the latter of which are used through traditional water pipes, allowing the flavored aerosol to pass through water, cooling and potentially altering the vapor, before being inhaled. We will evaluate other types of articles, such as systematic reviews (and meta-analyses) and commentaries pertaining to the topics listed above. We hope that this Special Issue will help fill in gaps in our understanding of the impact of e-cigarettes and vaping product use and, in doing so, could provide important scientific knowledge to inform regulatory efforts to protect public health.

Disclaimer: We will not accept research funded in part or full by any tobacco companies in this Special Issue. For more details, please check: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/12/2831/htm.

Dr. Mary Rezk-Hanna
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • electronic nicotine delivery systems
  • electronic cigarettes
  • vaping
  • electronic hookahs
  • second-hand aerosol
  • cardiovascular toxicity
  • pulmonary toxicity
  • toxicological impacts

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 1320 KiB  
Article
Effects of E-Cigarette (e-cig) Aerosols on Mutagenesis in Selected Organs in a C57 lacI (BigBlueTM) Mouse Model
by Dweet Chhaya, Merna Gress, Amna Raja, Wieslawa Kosinska, Terry Gordon, Judith Zelikoff and Joseph B. Guttenplan
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(12), 1693; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121693 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1113
Abstract
The objective of this study is to investigate the potential mutagenic effects of the exposure of mice to aerosols produced from the component liquids of an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS). The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) and ENDSs has increased tremendously over [...] Read more.
The objective of this study is to investigate the potential mutagenic effects of the exposure of mice to aerosols produced from the component liquids of an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS). The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) and ENDSs has increased tremendously over the past two decades. From what we know to date, ENDSs contain much lower levels of known carcinogens than tobacco smoke. While conventional tobacco smoke is a well-established mutagen, little is known about the mutagenicity of ENDS aerosols. Here, we report the mutagenic effects of a 3-month whole body exposure of C57 lacI mice (BigBlueTM) to filtered air (AIR) or ENDS aerosols in several tissues. Aerosols were generated from a 50/50 vegetable glycerin (VG)/propylene glycol (PG) mixture with and without nicotine. The results revealed that in the lung, bladder urothelial tissue, and tongue, mutagenesis was significantly greater in the VG/PG/nicotine group than in the AIR group. In all organs except the bladder, mutagenesis in the VG/PG only group was similar to those exposed to AIR. In the bladder, mutagenesis in the VG/PG group was elevated compared to that in the AIR group. In the liver, mutagenesis was modestly elevated in the VG/PG/nicotine group, but the elevation failed to reach statistical significance. Overall, there were no consistent differences in mutagenesis between the sexes. The results of this study suggest that exposure to e-cig aerosols containing nicotine represents a risk factor for carcinogenesis in several organ systems, and exposure to VG/PG alone may be a risk factor for bladder cancer. Full article
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11 pages, 1733 KiB  
Article
Methods for a Non-Targeted Qualitative Analysis and Quantification of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylenes by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry of E-Liquids and Aerosols in Commercially Available Electronic Cigarettes in Mexico
by Alejandro Svarch-Pérez, María Vanessa Paz-González, Carlota Ruiz-Juárez, Juan C. Olvera-Chacón, Angelina Larios-Solís, Santiago Castro-Gaytán, Eugenia Aldeco-Pérez and Jorge Carlos Alcocer-Varela
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(10), 1308; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21101308 - 30 Sep 2024
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Abstract
The chemical components of the e-liquids and aerosols contained in electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDSs), better known as vapes, were evaluated. The analytical technique used was gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, where the extraction and injection methods were established in this study. The work consisted [...] Read more.
The chemical components of the e-liquids and aerosols contained in electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDSs), better known as vapes, were evaluated. The analytical technique used was gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, where the extraction and injection methods were established in this study. The work consisted of the analysis of twenty samples of disposable electronic cigarettes prefilled with new e-liquid, of a known brand, flavor, volume, and, in some of them, the percentage of nicotine and the number of puffs per device were indicated on the label. We detected the presence of many substances (at a qualitative and semi-quantitative level), and we achieved the quantification of benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX), dangerous substances that cause severe damage to health. Several of the e-liquids and aerosols present BTX concentrations above the permissible exposure limit (PEL), recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): benzene in aerosol samples 80% > PEL, and toluene in aerosol samples 45% > PEL. The number of chemical compounds found in the samples increases from 13 to 167, the average being 52 compounds for the water extraction method, 42 compounds for the methanol extraction method of e-liquids, and 107 compounds for the direct aerosol analysis. It is a fact that many of those compounds, especially BTX, can cause serious effects on human health, affecting the respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and immune systems, as well as the brain. Therefore, the use of these devices should be considered with caution, since the substances and their chemical nature may pose significant health risks to both users and those exposed to secondhand emissions. Full article
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Review

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17 pages, 601 KiB  
Review
Sex Differences in E-Cigarette Use and Related Health Effects
by Fatima Alam and Patricia Silveyra
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(22), 7079; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20227079 - 18 Nov 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6844
Abstract
Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) comprise a variety of products designed to deliver nicotine, flavorings, and other substances. To date, multiple epidemiological and experimental studies have reported a variety of health issues associated with their use, including respiratory toxicity, exacerbation of respiratory conditions, and [...] Read more.
Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) comprise a variety of products designed to deliver nicotine, flavorings, and other substances. To date, multiple epidemiological and experimental studies have reported a variety of health issues associated with their use, including respiratory toxicity, exacerbation of respiratory conditions, and behavioral and physiological effects. While some of these effects appear to be sex- and/or gender-related, only a portion of the research has been conducted considering these variables. In this review, we sought to summarize the available literature on sex-specific effects and sex and gender differences, including predictors and risk factors, effects on organ systems, and behavioral effects. Methods: We searched and selected articles from 2018–2023 that included sex as a variable or reported sex differences on e-cigarette-associated effects. Results: We found 115 relevant studies published since 2018 that reported sex differences in a variety of outcomes. The main differences reported were related to reasons for initiation, including smoking history, types of devices and flavoring, polysubstance use, physiological responses to nicotine and toxicants in e-liquids, exacerbation of lung disease, and behavioral factors such as anxiety, depression, sexuality, and bullying. Conclusions: The available literature supports the notion that both sex and gender influence the susceptibility to the negative effects of e-cigarette use. Future research needs to consider sex and gender variables when addressing e-cigarette toxicity and other health-related consequences. Full article
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