Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2016 Nov;25(Suppl 2):ii81-ii87.
doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053205. Epub 2016 Sep 15.

Flavourings significantly affect inhalation toxicity of aerosol generated from electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)

Noel J Leigh  1 , Ralph I Lawton  1 , Pamela A Hershberger  2 , Maciej L Goniewicz  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Flavourings significantly affect inhalation toxicity of aerosol generated from electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)

Noel J Leigh et al. Tob Control. 2016 Nov.

Abstract

Background: E-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are designed to deliver nicotine-containing aerosol via inhalation. Little is known about the health effects of flavoured ENDS aerosol when inhaled.

Methods: Aerosol from ENDS was generated using a smoking machine. Various types of ENDS devices or a tank system prefilled with liquids of different flavours, nicotine carrier, variable nicotine concentrations and with modified battery output voltage were tested. A convenience sample of commercial fluids with flavour names of tobacco, piña colada, menthol, coffee and strawberry were used. Flavouring chemicals were identified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. H292 human bronchial epithelial cells were directly exposed to 55 puffs of freshly generated ENDS aerosol, tobacco smoke or air (controls) using an air-liquid interface system and the Health Canada intense smoking protocol. The following in vitro toxicological effects were assessed: (1) cell viability, (2) metabolic activity and (3) release of inflammatory mediators (cytokines).

Results: Exposure to ENDS aerosol resulted in decreased metabolic activity and cell viability and increased release of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, CXCL1, CXCL2 and CXCL10 compared to air controls. Cell viability and metabolic activity were more adversely affected by conventional cigarettes than most tested ENDS products. Product type, battery output voltage and flavours significantly affected toxicity of ENDS aerosol, with a strawberry-flavoured product being the most cytotoxic.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that characteristics of ENDS products, including flavours, may induce inhalation toxicity. Therefore, ENDS users should use the products with caution until more comprehensive studies are performed.

Keywords: Electronic nicotine delivery devices; Harm Reduction; Toxicology.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

MLG reports grants from and served as an advisory board member to pharmaceutical companies that manufacture smoking cessation drugs. Other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Grana R, Benowitz N, Glantz S. E-cigarettes a scientific review. Circulation. 2014;129:1972–86. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.007667. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Goniewicz ML, Knysak J, Gawron M, et al. Levels of selected carcinogens and toxicants in vapour from electronic cigarettes. Tob Control. 2014;23:133–9. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050859. [published Online First: published Online First: 6 March 2013] - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kosmider L, Sobczak A, Prokopowicz A, et al. Cherry-flavoured electronic cigarettes expose users to the inhalation irritant, benzaldehyde. Thorax. 2016;71:376–7. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-207895. [published Online First: 28 January 2016] - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. McGill N. Research on e-cigarettes examining health effects: Regulations due. The Nation’s Health. 2013;43:1–10.
    1. Benowitz NL, Goniewicz ML. The regulatory challenge of electronic cigarettes. JAMA. 2013;310:685–6. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.109501. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types