Genotoxic and Carcinogenic Potential of Compounds Associated with Electronic Cigarettes: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Many studies, comparing the health associated risks of electronic cigarettes with conventional cigarettes focus mainly on the common chemical compounds found between them.

Aim: Review chemical compounds found exclusively in electronic cigarettes and describe their toxic effects, focusing on electronic-cigarette-only and dual electronic-cigarette and conventional cigarette users.

Data sources: Literature search was carried out using PubMed.

Study eligibility criteria: Articles related exclusively to conventional and electronic cigarettes' chemical composition. Articles which reported to be financed from tobacco or electronic cigarettes industries, not reporting source of funding, not related to the chemical composition of electronic and conventional cigarettes and not relevant to tobacco research were excluded.

Methods and results: Chemical compounds reported in the selected studies were tabulated using the Chemical Abstracts Service registry number for chemical substances information. A total of 50 chemical compounds were exclusively reported to be present in electronic cigarettes. Crucial health risks identified were: eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation, with almost 50% of incidence, an increment of 10% in cytotoxic effects, when compared to compounds in common with conventional cigarettes and around 11% of compounds with unknown effects to human health.

Limitations: Articles reporting conflicts of interest.

Conclusions and implications of key findings: Despite being considered as less harmful for human health, compounds found in electronic cigarettes are still a matter of research and their effects on health are yet unknown. The use of these devices is not recommended for first time users and it is considered hazardous for dual users.

Figure 1

PRISMA flow diagram showing the filtering process of the articles selected to analyze chemical composition of electronic and conventional cigarettes.

Figure 2

Venn diagram showing the number of common and unique chemical compounds between electronic and conventional cigarette.

Figure 3

(a) Health risks associated to chemical compounds found exclusively in electronic cigarettes. (b) Health risks associated to chemical compounds from conventional cigarettes.