[ad_1]
Sven-Eric Jordt is an associate professor of anesthesiology, pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke University. Credit: Shawn Rocco / Duke Health
In the United States, the use of e-cigarettes is growing, as well as vaping menus, with manufacturers marketing nicotine-infused liquids with a taste of crème brûlée, cotton candy and mango smoothies.
The attractiveness of teens for sweet flavors is a major concern of officials at the Food and Drug Administration, who recently declared the teenage vaping epidemic. A new study by Duke and Yale Universities shows that flavors are transforming more than marketing. Chemical additives react to e-liquids, or electronic juices, creating new compounds that can cause irritations and inflammation during inhalation.
The study, published by Research on nicotine and tobacco, shows that when chemical flavors for vanilla, cherry, citrus and cinnamon mingle with solvents such as polypropylene glycol and glycerol, they create compounds called acetals.
Sven-Eric Jordt, Ph.D., an associate professor of anesthesiology, pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke, said Sven-Eric Jordt, Ph.D., lead author of the ebook. paper.
"These individual ingredients combine to form more complex chemicals that are not divulged to the user," said Jordt. "Once inhaled, these compounds will persist in the body for a while, thus activating the irritation pathways.As time goes by, this mild irritation could cause an inflammatory reaction."
Some research on electronic cigarettes has suggested that higher vapor temperatures increase the risk of vapors containing potentially harmful chemicals, including formaldehyde, a suspected carcinogen. Advocates of the vape suggest that low temperature or adjustable temperature vaporizers minimize these risks.
The new study, a collaboration between Duke and the Yale Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, shows that chemical changes occur even before liquids are heated. Users can therefore run risks when inhaling aerosol ingredients, regardless of the temperature.
"Our results show that even in the absence of heating and combustion, chemical reactions occur in the liquids of the electronic cigarette and that the resulting compounds could be harmful to the user's airways", said Hanno Erythropel, Ph.D., a postdoctoral associate in chemistry. and environmental engineering at Yale and co-author of the study.
According to the researchers, spray liquids contain between 0.5 and 10% aroma additives, depending on the desired intensity. For this study, they analyzed liquids containing 0.8 to 2.5% aroma additives.
They found that, when mixed with solvents, at least 40% of the flavoring substances were converted to acetal compounds. Other tests have shown that half to 80% of the acetals of the liquid transferred into the vapor were inhaled.
Aromatic additives are commonly used in foods and cosmetics in the form of chemicals called aldehydes and even in the form of acetals, the latter being able to provide a long lasting scent to products such as fragrances, said Jordt . The chemicals are approved for these uses and must not aggravate the intestines or the skin, which offer better protection against environmental irritants than the delicate respiratory tract.
Flavored aldehydes are known to cause irritation by inhalation. In laboratory tests, the researchers found that the acetals they had created by mixing flavors with electronic liquids were even more effective at triggering molecular receptors involved in lung irritation – the same receptors that maintain the irritation and inflammation in people with asthma or inhaling smoke. the vapors, the study found.
"People who frequently use e-cigarettes need to know that they are exposing themselves to these chemicals and that their long-term effects on the airways are unknown," Erythropel said.
Children and adolescents can be particularly sensitive to these effects, said Jordt.
"In some countries, it is generally accepted that e-cigarettes could help chronic smokers quit traditional cigarettes," said Jordt. "However, in the United States, we are seeing an increasing number of teens using them.Adolesens who have developing lungs are more prone to irritation, allergies and asthma. It is important for families and children to be aware of the potential dangers. "
Explore further:
Electronic cigarettes such as Juul are popular among teens. Are they harmful?
More information:
Sven-Eric Jordt et al, OUP accepted the manuscript, Research on nicotine and tobacco (2018). DOI: 10.1093 / ntr / nty192
Source link
