Study finds e-cigarettes can be contaminated with microbial toxins

At this point, fans of electronic cigarettes could get used to bad news about the chemicals in their products. A new study released Wednesday adds another potential risk to the list, although it is still very uncertain. This suggests that many electronic cigarette cartridges and electronic fluid refills are contaminated with toxins vomited by bacteria and fungi.

The smoke of traditional tobacco cigarettes obviously does not lack toxins. Some of these toxins are not generated by tobacco combustion, but come from dead bacteria and fungi that contaminate products at some point during the production process. They include endotoxins, which are found in gram-negative bacteria, and glucans, which help form the cell walls of many species of fungi.

Respiratory problems such as inflammation of the lungs or asthma outbreaks have been associated with the inhalation of endotoxins and glucans (through cigarette smoke or alcohol). other exhibitions, such as working in a textile factory). But according to the authors of this study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, no research has ever been devoted to the question of how much these microbial toxins could be common in electronic cigarette products.

Harvard researchers tested 75 products from 10 of the top brands at the time. They bought all products online, with the exception of those of a brand, purchased at a convenience store near the campus. These included 38 cartridges (single-use devices) and 37 e-liquids, which are used to refill some electronic cigarette products, in different flavors such as fruit, tobacco and menthol.

They found that 23% had detectable levels of endotoxins, while 81% contained glucan. On average, cartridges contained three times more glucans than e-liquids. Tobacco and menthol flavored products had glucan levels ten times higher on average. Endotoxin levels, meanwhile, were slightly higher in fruit flavored products.

The results, according to the authors, indicate that "some [e-cigarette] marks and aromas may be contaminated with microbial toxins. "

As frightening as it may sound, there are great caveats to the conclusions.

One limitation is that they have not tested the levels of toxins that are found in the aerosol produced by these products and that users breathe. They also tested only first-generation devices, not newer devices such as pens, tanks and pods. Pods in particular now provide even more nicotine per puff to users via a different delivery method than older devices, but we do not know how this could affect the level of exposure to these toxins. We know that people are usually exposed to fewer environmental toxins due to steam than smoking a cigarette (although that does not mean that e-cigarettes are completely harmless).

Even the authors admit, there is no scientific evidence at present "of the assumption that current levels of endotoxin and glucan observed in [e-cigarettes] raise health problems. "

Nevertheless, fairly high concentrations of endotoxins and glucans in the air appear to affect the lungs, and it is thought that these play a role in why cigarette smoke is so harmful to breathing. It is therefore useful to study thoroughly the frequency with which these toxins are found in electronic cigarette products and to determine whether chronic exposure via vaping may pose a health risk. If nothing else, there might be ways to reduce the risk of contamination. Cotton wicks, for example, are often used in electronic cigarette cartridges and cotton fibers are regularly contaminated with both toxins.

"Further research is needed to confirm our findings and assess potential exposures and health effects in [e-cigarette] users, "wrote the authors.