TY - JOUR
T1 - E-cigarettes as a source of toxic and potentially carcinogenic metals
AU - Hess, Catherine Ann
AU - Olmedo, Pablo
AU - Navas-Acien, Ana
AU - Goessler, Walter
AU - Cohen, Joanna E.
AU - Rule, Ana Maria
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - Background and aims The popularity of electronic cigarette devices is growing worldwide. The health impact of e-cigarette use, however, remains unclear. E-cigarettes are marketed as a safer alternative to cigarettes. The aim of this research was the characterization and quantification of toxic metal concentrations in five, nationally popular brands of cig-a-like e-cigarettes. Methods We analyzed the cartomizer liquid in 10 cartomizer refills for each of five brands by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results All of the tested metals (cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese and nickel) were found in the e-liquids analyzed. Across all analyzed brands, mean (SD) concentrations ranged from 4.89 (0.893) to 1970 (1540) μg/L for lead, 53.9 (6.95) to 2110 (5220) μg/L for chromium and 58.7 (22.4) to 22,600 (24,400) μg/L for nickel. Manganese concentrations ranged from 28.7 (9.79) to 6910.2 (12,200) μg/L. We found marked variability in nickel and chromium concentration within and between brands, which may come from heating elements. Conclusion Additional research is needed to evaluate whether e-cigarettes represent a relevant exposure pathway for toxic metals in users.
AB - Background and aims The popularity of electronic cigarette devices is growing worldwide. The health impact of e-cigarette use, however, remains unclear. E-cigarettes are marketed as a safer alternative to cigarettes. The aim of this research was the characterization and quantification of toxic metal concentrations in five, nationally popular brands of cig-a-like e-cigarettes. Methods We analyzed the cartomizer liquid in 10 cartomizer refills for each of five brands by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results All of the tested metals (cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese and nickel) were found in the e-liquids analyzed. Across all analyzed brands, mean (SD) concentrations ranged from 4.89 (0.893) to 1970 (1540) μg/L for lead, 53.9 (6.95) to 2110 (5220) μg/L for chromium and 58.7 (22.4) to 22,600 (24,400) μg/L for nickel. Manganese concentrations ranged from 28.7 (9.79) to 6910.2 (12,200) μg/L. We found marked variability in nickel and chromium concentration within and between brands, which may come from heating elements. Conclusion Additional research is needed to evaluate whether e-cigarettes represent a relevant exposure pathway for toxic metals in users.
KW - Carcinogens
KW - Electronic nicotine delivery devices
KW - Non-cigarette tobacco products
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84993945014&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84993945014&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envres.2016.09.026
DO - 10.1016/j.envres.2016.09.026
M3 - Article
C2 - 27810679
AN - SCOPUS:84993945014
SN - 0013-9351
VL - 152
SP - 221
EP - 225
JO - Environmental research
JF - Environmental research
ER -