The Emission of VOCs and CO from Heated Tobacco Products, Electronic Cigarettes, and Conventional Cigarettes, and Their Health Risk

Abstract

The differences in aerosol composition between new tobacco types (heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes) and conventional cigarettes have not been systematically studied. In this study, the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), nicotine, and tar from heated tobacco products (HTPs), electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and conventional cigarettes were compared, and their health risks were evaluated by applying the same smoking regime and a loss mechanism of smoking. Twenty VOCs were identified in aerosols from HTPs, 18 VOCs were identified in aerosols from e-cigarettes, and 97 VOCs were identified in aerosols from cigarettes by GC–MS and HPLC analysis. The concentrations of total VOCs (TVOCs) emitted by the three types of tobacco products decreased as follows: e-cigarettes (795.4 mg/100 puffs) > cigarettes (83.29 mg/100 puffs) > HTPs (15.65 mg/100 puffs). The nicotine content was 24.63 ± 2.25 mg/100 puffs for e-cigarettes, 22.94 ± 0.03 mg/100 puffs for cigarettes, and 8.817 ± 0.500 mg/100 puffs for HTPs. When using cigarettes of the same brand, the mass concentrations of VOCs, tar, and CO emitted by HTPs were approximately 81.2%, 95.9%, and 97.5%, respectively, lower than the amounts emitted by cigarettes. The health risk results demonstrated that the noncarcinogenic risk of the three types of tobacco products decreased as follows: cigarettes (3609.05) > HTPs (2449.70) > acceptable level (1) > e-cigarettes (0.91). The lifetime cancer risk (LCR) decreased as follows: cigarettes (2.99 × 10−4) > HTPs (9.92 × 10−5) > e-cigarettes (4.80 × 10−5) > acceptable level (10−6). In general, HTPs and e-cigarettes were less harmful than cigarettes when the emission of VOCs and CO was considered.

Face Mask as a Versatile Sampling Device for the Assessment of Personal Exposure to 54 Toxic Compounds in Environmental Tobacco Smoke

“…We then evaluated personal exposure to ETS-borne VOCs and SVOCs based on chemical classes. Results showed personal exposure to most classes of ETS-borne VOCs and SVOCs that are demonstrated as the contributors to tobacco-related carcinogenesis, including aromatic amines, heterocyclic aromatic amines, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, tobacco alkaloids, phenols, and furanoids, were significantly lower in ETS produced by EC and IQOS than that by the CCs (Figure B), which was consistent with the results of previous studies …”

“…Results showed personal exposure to most classes of ETS-borne VOCs and SVOCs that are demonstrated as the contributors to tobaccorelated carcinogenesis, including aromatic amines, heterocyclic aromatic amines, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, tobacco alkaloids, phenols, and furanoids, 16 were significantly lower in ETS produced by EC and IQOS than that by the CCs (Figure 4B), which was consistent with the results of previous studies. 45 While naphthalene was detected as the most abundant PAH in ETS, personal exposure to total PAHs through smoke produced from consuming conventional cigarettes, EC, and IQOS were not significantly different. This phenomenon could be explained by the prior observation that naphthalene is one of the major PAHs present in e-liquids and the aerosols generated from ECs and HTPs.…”

Simple HPLC method for simultaneous quantification of nicotine and cotinine levels in rat plasma after exposure to two different tobacco products

“…Nicotine, a pyridine alkaloid most abundant in tobacco leaves, is known as a highly addictive neurotoxin [1,2]. The main source of nicotine is still tobacco smoking, which is listed as the main cause of cancer in many organs, especially in the respiratory system [3]. Tobacco smoking is associated with other chronic diseases including heart diseases, and hypertension [4,5], as well as linked with high severity of COVID-19 infection [6].…”

Nontargeted Analysis in Tobacco Research: Challenges and Opportunities

“…Research on the chemical characterization of tobacco product ingredients and constituents in the emissions has been ongoing for decades and has led to the identification of thousands of chemicals, the vast majority of which are harmful to human health. , Various analytical methods have been developed, adapted, and optimized for the detection and quantification of toxicants in tobacco product emissions. The bulk of these methods is targeted toward specific classes of compounds or predetermined toxicants of interest such as carbonyls, phenols, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds . However, the targeted lists were largely developed by analyzing constituents in cigarette smoke, and assessing available data on the abuse liability and adverse health effects of individual constituents.…”