Chemical and Toxicological Characterization of Vaping Emission Products from Commonly Used Vape Juice Diluents

Summary & key facts

This lab study looked at what chemicals form when common vape liquid diluents (cutting agents) are heated and made into vapor. The researchers found that heating these diluents creates toxic byproducts (for example quinones, carbonyls, esters, and alkyl alcohols). Condensed vapor from these products slowed growth and increased toxicity in human airway cells grown in the lab. The study found especially large amounts of duroquinone and durohydroquinone when vitamin E acetate was vaped. The authors said these findings help explain how toxic byproducts could contribute to vaping-related lung problems, but they did not prove a direct cause of illness in people.

Key facts:

• The study used chemical and toxicological tests on vaping emissions from commonly used vape juice diluents (also called cutting agents).
• During vaping of those diluents, the researchers detected toxic byproducts including quinones, carbonyls, esters, and alkyl alcohols.
• Condensed vaping emissions caused reduced cell proliferation and increased cytotoxicity in human airway epithelial cells grown in the lab (in vitro).
• Vaping vitamin E acetate produced substantial amounts of duroquinone and durohydroquinone (a related redox pair) in the emissions.
• The authors noted that the duroquinone/durohydroquinone formation could be linked to acute oxidative stress and lung injuries reported in other studies, but they did not establish a direct causal link between these emissions and human illne
• The paper was published in Chem Res Toxicol in 2020 and the authors stated that the causal relationship between vaping emissions and reported severe lung injuries remains to be clarified.

Abstract

Recent reports have linked severe lung injuries and deaths to the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products. Nevertheless, the causal relationship between exposure to vaping emissions and the observed health outcomes remains to be elucidated. Through chemical and toxicological characterization of vapi …

Topics

Air Quality and Health Impacts Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure Smoking Behavior and Cessation

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Physiology

Tags

Biochemistry Biology Chemistry Cytotoxicity Diluent Food science In vitro Organic chemistry Oxidative stress Reactive oxygen species Toxicology