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Toxicity Assessment of Refill Liquids for Electronic Cigarettes

Author

Listed:
  • Vincent Varlet

    (Unit of Toxicology, University Center of Legal Medicine, 1000 Lausanne 25, Switzerland)

  • Konstantinos Farsalinos

    (Department of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Kallithea 17674, Greece
    Department of Pharmacology, University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece)

  • Marc Augsburger

    (Unit of Toxicology, University Center of Legal Medicine, 1000 Lausanne 25, Switzerland)

  • Aurélien Thomas

    (Unit of Toxicology, University Center of Legal Medicine, 1000 Lausanne 25, Switzerland
    Swiss Center of Applied Human Toxicology, University of Lausanne, 1000 Lausanne 25, Switzerland)

  • Jean-François Etter

    (Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland)

Abstract

We analyzed 42 models from 14 brands of refill liquids for e-cigarettes for the presence of micro-organisms, diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, hydrocarbons, ethanol, aldehydes, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, and solvents. All the liquids under scrutiny complied with norms for the absence of yeast, mold, aerobic microbes, Staphylococcus aureus , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol and ethanol were detected, but remained within limits authorized for food and pharmaceutical products. Terpenic compounds and aldehydes were found in the products, in particular formaldehyde and acrolein. No sample contained nitrosamines at levels above the limit of detection (1 μg/g). Residual solvents such as 1,3-butadiene, cyclohexane and acetone, to name a few, were found in some products. None of the products under scrutiny were totally exempt of potentially toxic compounds. However, for products other than nicotine, the oral acute toxicity of the e-liquids tested seems to be of minor concern. However, a minority of liquids, especially those with flavorings, showed particularly high ranges of chemicals, causing concerns about their potential toxicity in case of chronic oral exposure.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincent Varlet & Konstantinos Farsalinos & Marc Augsburger & Aurélien Thomas & Jean-François Etter, 2015. "Toxicity Assessment of Refill Liquids for Electronic Cigarettes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:5:p:4796-4815:d:48993
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pearson, J.L. & Richardson, A. & Niaura, R.S. & Vallone, D.M. & Abrams, D.B., 2012. "E-cigarette awareness, use, and harm perceptions in US adults," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(9), pages 1758-1766.
    2. Konstantinos E. Farsalinos & Giorgio Romagna & Dimitris Tsiapras & Stamatis Kyrzopoulos & Vassilis Voudris, 2014. "Characteristics, Perceived Side Effects and Benefits of Electronic Cigarette Use: A Worldwide Survey of More than 19,000 Consumers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-18, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Monique Williams & Prue Talbot, 2019. "Design Features in Multiple Generations of Electronic Cigarette Atomizers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Parham Azimi & Zahra Keshavarz & Marianne Lahaie Luna & Jose Guillermo Cedeno Laurent & Jose Vallarino & David C. Christiani & Joseph G. Allen, 2021. "An Unrecognized Hazard in E-Cigarette Vapor: Preliminary Quantification of Methylglyoxal Formation from Propylene Glycol in E-Cigarettes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-12, January.
    3. Christian Giroud & Mariangela De Cesare & Aurélie Berthet & Vincent Varlet & Nicolas Concha-Lozano & Bernard Favrat, 2015. "E-Cigarettes: A Review of New Trends in Cannabis Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-21, August.
    4. Cosima Hoetger & Rose S. Bono & Nicole E. Nicksic & Andrew J. Barnes & Caroline O. Cobb, 2019. "Influence of Electronic Cigarette Characteristics on Susceptibility, Perceptions, and Abuse Liability Indices among Combustible Tobacco Cigarette Smokers and Non-Smokers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-15, May.

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