Development and characterization of electronic-cigarette exposure generation system (Ecig-EGS) for the physico-chemical and toxicological assessment of electronic cigarette emissions

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes (e-cig) have been introduced as a nicotine replacement therapy and have gained increasing attention and popularity. However, while findings on possible toxicological implications continue to grow, major knowledge gaps on both the complex chemistry of the exposure and toxicity exist, prohibiting public health assessors from assessing risks. Here a versatile electronic cigarette exposure generation system (Ecig-EGS) has been developed and characterized. Ecig-EGS allows generation of real world e-cig emission profiles under controlled operational conditions, real time monitoring and time-integrated particle/gas sampling for physico-chemical characterization, and toxicological assessment (both in vitro and in vivo). The platform is highly versatile and can be used with all e-cig types. It enables generation of precisely controlled e-cig exposure while critical operational parameters and environmental mixing conditions can be adjusted in a systematic manner to assess their impact on complex chemistry and toxicity of emissions. Results proved the versatility and reproducibility of Ecig-EGS. E-cig emission was found to contain 106 – 107 particles/cm3 with the mode diameter around 200nm, under air change rate of 60/h. Elevated CO2 and volatile organic specie generation was also observed. Furthermore, environmental mixing conditions also influenced e-cig emission profile. The versatility of Ecig-EGS will enable linking of operational and environmental parameters with exposure chemistry and toxicology and help in assessing health risks.

E-cigarette smoke damages DNA and reduces repair activity in mouse lung, heart, and bladder as well as in human lung and bladder cells

“…Mice were exposed to ECS (10 mg/mL), 3 h/d, 5 d/wk, for 12 wk. ECS was generated by an E-cig machine, as previously described ( 64 ). An automated three-port E-cigarette aerosol generator (e∼Aerosols) was used to produce E-cigarette aerosols from NJOY top fill tanks (NJOY, Inc.) filled with 1.6 mL of e-juice with 10 mg/mL nicotine in a propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin mixture (50/50 by volume; MtBakerVapor MESA).…”

Neuroinflammatory and Behavioral Outcomes Measured in Adult Offspring of Mice Exposed Prenatally to E-Cigarette Aerosols

“…Our assessment of the e-cigarette aerosol both with and without nicotine had similarly elevated levels of PM compared with FA. Several studies have reported the presence of fine and ultra-fine PM in e-cigarette aerosols (Ingebrethsen et al 2012;Melstrom et al 2017;Zhao et al 2016), as well as carbonyls, volatile organic compounds, and metals (Cheng 2014; Wagner et al 2018). Although we were not able to specifically define the PM composition generated from the e-cigarette aerosols in this study, a previous report from our laboratories demonstrated behavioral alterations in response to maternal PM 2:5 exposure (Church et al 2018).…”

Discoveries in Aerosol Science: Characterization of Nanoparticles Emitted From Metallic Coils in Electronic Cigarettes

“…Electronic (e-) cigarettes are battery-powered devices that generate and deliver vaporized nicotine, fl avorings, and other additives ( Figure 1). The variety of e-cigarettes available in the current market can be categorized into three broad types: a disposable cigarette-like device, a vape pen with a disposable tank, and an advanced personal vaporizer with a refi llable tank (Zhao, Pyrgiotakis, & Demokritou, 2016). These products have been endorsed as alternatives to tobacco smoke and advertised as smoking cessation aids.…”