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(Reuters Health) – A small experiment suggests that two chemicals commonly used as electronic cigarette flavors could damage the airways of users.
The researchers point out that the results underscore the need to deepen the study of how the very popular alternatives to smoking affect the human body.
In experiments on specimens, the researchers exposed two flavoring cells to the cells of the human airway mucosa: diacetyl – a chemical substance with a smell similar to that of butter – and its "chemical cousin", the 2,3 -pentanedione.
In the body, these bronchial epithelial cells work with the mucosa to eliminate germs and inhaled particles.
The researchers found that both chemicals induced hundreds of genetic changes in the cells. Chemicals have also impaired the ability of cells to function properly.
"These flavoring chemicals are what we call chemicals that are generally considered safe. This designation, however, refers only to the ingestion route, "said co-author of the study, Joseph Allen, of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
"These are food grade flavoring chemicals. They have not been tested for inhalation safety. And what we know about users who inhale these flavoring chemicals is that they can cause serious lung disease, "Allen told Reuters Health by phone.
In foods, diacetyl is generally considered safe by experts. However, older research dating back more than a decade described how popcorn plant workers had developed a serious respiratory disease called bronchiolitis obliterans, or "lung of popcorn," after having inhaled the compound flavored with butter.
"It's a good study and it's a start," said Irfan Rahman, a professor of environmental medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, who was not involved in the study.
"The flavor causes modifications in the genes, which is a key point in human lung epithelial cells," said Rahman, who studies the effects of cigarette smoke on lung inflammation.
"The lungs are not made for the flavors to be inhaled. Our body is not ready yet, "Rahman said.
The researchers acknowledged that experiments on specimens may not correspond to actual human exposure to electronic cigarettes.
They also pointed out that they had chosen these two flavoring chemicals to study based on the preliminary investigations conducted in 2016. Today, electronic cigar manufacturers may have changed their wording.
Indeed, Juul Labs Inc., a popular manufacturer of electronic cigarette devices, states on its website that it does not add any of these chemicals to its manufacturing process and lists other ingredients such as natural oils, extracts and aromas.
"Some of the newest electronic cigarette companies like Juul are starting to announce that their products do not contain (these chemicals)," Allen said.
"What's important to ask is: what flavors do they use?" He added
Health regulators and governments have fired up against the manufacturers of electronic cigarettes and "vape" as the use of electronic cigarettes by young people is growing, and concern is growing about the growth of the young population of electronic cigarette users who could start smoking.
"Due to the badociations of exposure to diacetyl inhalation and severe respiratory diseases and the increasing popularity of e-cig, it is necessary to pursue mechanistic studies to evaluate the effects of diacetyl and compounds Associated flavoring agents in e-cigs on airway epithelium "note in their study published in Scientific Reports.
SOURCE: Scientific reports go.nature.com/2Sgy3D3, posted on February 1, 2019.
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