New research shows that chocolate-flavored e-cigarettes are “particularly harmful” to the lungs. In fact, scientists found that the 10 flavors tested caused a level of toxicity in the cells that lined the lung tissues, resulting in cell death in some cases. The toxins also significantly reduced the ability of immune system cells to remove bacteria and regulate inflammation. The research article was published in the America Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology and was selected as APSselect article for February.
The data show that the chemical profiles of the e-liquid flavors studied contained as many as 15 chemicals (apple, banana, bubblegum, cappuccino, cherry, chocolate, cinnamon, mango, peppermint and tobacco). The most harmful flavors, such as chocolate and banana, contained high levels of a chemical component called benzene ring. Flavors with a lower density of benzene ring were less harmful. The researchers also found that different brands of chocolate and banana flavored e-liquids with lower amounts of benzene ring chemicals were also less harmful.
The purpose of the study, according to researchers, was to determine whether immunodeficiency and toxicity in the lungs seen in earlier studies were dependent on the taste used, independent of the presence of nicotine. . To find out, they exposed lung cells of healthy, non-smoking subjects to the e-cigarette valve made from different flavors.
We believe that this study provides evidence that the potential harm from the use of flavors does not derive from the name on the bottle, but the chemical composition of flavor, the flavor chemicals present and concentration. This suggests that any limits on permissible flavors should be based on this type of data specifically to ensure that permissible products actually represent the minimum level of harm possible. “
Miranda Ween, PhD, Researcher, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia
Source:
American Psychological Association (APS)