1
|
Kochvar A, Hao G, Dai HD. Biomarkers of metal exposure in adolescent e-cigarette users: correlations with vaping frequency and flavouring. Tob Control 2024:tc-2023-058554. [PMID: 38684372 DOI: 10.1136/tc-2023-058554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Youth vaping poses a significant public health concern as metals have been detected in e-cigarette aerosols and liquids. This study investigated factors associated with biomarkers of metal exposure. METHODS Data were drawn from Wave 5 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Youth Panel, a nationally representative sample of US adolescents aged 13-17 years. Urinary biomarkers of exposure to cadmium, lead, and uranium were assessed by vaping frequency (occasional (1-5 days), intermittent (6-19 days), and frequent (20+ days)) in the past 30 days and flavour type (menthol/mint, fruit, and sweet). RESULTS Among 200 exclusive e-cigarette users (median age 15.9 years, 62.9% female), 65 reported occasional use, 45 reported intermittent use, and 81 reported frequent use. The average number of recent puffs per day increased exponentially by vaping frequency (occasional: 0.9 puffs, intermittent: 7.9 puffs, frequent: 27.0 puffs; p=0.001). Both intermittent (0.21 ng/mg creatinine) and frequent users (0.20 ng/mg creatinine) had higher urine lead levels than occasional users (0.16 ng/mg creatinine). Frequent users also had higher urine uranium levels compared with occasional users (0.009 vs 0.005 ng/mg creatinine, p=0.0004). Overall, 33.0% of users preferred using menthol/mint flavours, 49.8% fruit flavours, and 15.3% sweet flavours. Sweet flavour users had higher uranium levels compared with menthol/mint users (0.009 vs 0.005 ng/mg creatinine, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS Vaping in early life could increase the risk of exposure to metals, potentially harming brain and organ development. Regulations on vaping should safeguard the youth population against addiction and exposure to metals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Kochvar
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Kansas City University, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Gary Hao
- Millard West High School, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Granata S, Vivarelli F, Morosini C, Canistro D, Paolini M, Fairclough LC. Toxicological Aspects Associated with Consumption from Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS): Focus on Heavy Metals Exposure and Cancer Risk. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2737. [PMID: 38473984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Tobacco smoking remains one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDSs) are proposed as a tool for smoking cessation. In the last few years, a growing number of different types of ENDSs were launched onto the market. Despite the manufacturing differences, ENDSs can be classified as "liquid e-cigarettes" (e-cigs) equipped with an atomizer that vaporizes a liquid composed of vegetable glycerin (VG), polypropylene glycol (PG), and nicotine, with the possible addition of flavorings; otherwise, the "heated tobacco products" (HTPs) heat tobacco sticks through contact with an electronic heating metal element. The presence of some metals in the heating systems, as well as in solder joints, involves the possibility that heavy metal ions can move from these components to the liquid, or they can be adsorbed into the tobacco stick from the heating blade in the case of HTPs. Recent evidence has indicated the presence of heavy metals in the refill liquids and in the mainstream such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb). The present review discusses the toxicological aspects associated with the exposition of heavy metals by consumption from ENDSs, focusing on metal carcinogenesis risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Granata
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Vivarelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Camilla Morosini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Donatella Canistro
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Moreno Paolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucy C Fairclough
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, East Dr, Nottingham NG7 2TQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chu M, Wang R, Jing X, Li D, Fu G, Deng J, Xu Z, Zhao J, Liu Z, Fan Q, Pei L, Zeng Z, Liu C, Chen Z, Lu J, Liu XA. Conventional and multi-omics assessments of subacute inhalation toxicity due to propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin aerosol produced by electronic cigarettes. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 271:116002. [PMID: 38277972 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) are the most common solvents used in electronic cigarette liquids. No long-term inhalation toxicity assessments have been performed combining conventional and multi-omics approaches on the potential respiratory effects of the solvents in vivo. In this study, the systemic toxicity of aerosol generated from a ceramic heating coil-based e-cigarette was evaluated. First, the aerosol properties were characterized, including carbonyl emissions, the particle size distribution, and aerosol temperatures. To determine toxicological effects, rats were exposed, through their nose only, to filtered air or a propylene glycol (PG)/ glycerin (VG) (50:50, %W/W) aerosol mixture at the target concentration of 3 mg/L for six hours daily over a continuous 28-day period. Compared with the air group, female rats in the PG/VG group exhibited significantly lower body weights during both the exposure period and recovery period, and this was linked to a reduced food intake. Male rats in the PG/VG group also experienced a significant decline in body weight during the exposure period. Importantly, rats exposed to the PG/VG aerosol showed only minimal biological effects compared to those with only air exposure, with no signs of toxicity. Moreover, the transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses of the rat lung tissues following aerosol exposure revealed a series of candidate pathways linking aerosol inhalation to altered lung functions, especially the inflammatory response and disease. Dysregulated pathways of arachidonic acids, the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and the hematopoietic cell lineage were revealed through integrated multi-omics analysis. Therefore, our integrated multi-omics approach offers novel systemic insights and early evidence of environmental-related health hazards associated with an e-cigarette aerosol using two carrier solvents in a rat model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China; Laboratory of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen First union Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518103, China
| | - Ruoxi Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Jing
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ding Li
- Laboratory of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen First union Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518103, China; Laboratory of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Health Union Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518103, China
| | - Guofeng Fu
- Laboratory of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen First union Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518103, China
| | - Jingjing Deng
- Laboratory of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Health Union Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518103, China
| | - Zhibin Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Laboratory of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Health Union Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518103, China
| | - Zhang Liu
- Laboratory of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Health Union Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518103, China
| | - Qiming Fan
- Guangdong Zhongke EnHealth Science and Technology Co., Ltd. Foshan 528000, China
| | - Lanjie Pei
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Applied Toxicology, Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Zhi Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China
| | - Chuan Liu
- Laboratory of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen First union Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518103, China
| | - Zuxin Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Jin Lu
- Laboratory of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen First union Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518103, China; Laboratory of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Health Union Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518103, China.
| | - Xin-An Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jameson JB, Wang J, Bailey PC, Oldham MJ, Smith CR, Jeong LN, Cook DK, Bates AL, Ullah S, Pennington ASC, Gillman IG. Determination of chemical constituent yields in e-cigarette aerosol using partial and whole pod collections, a comparative analysis. Front Chem 2023; 11:1223967. [PMID: 37744056 PMCID: PMC10512464 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1223967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Literature reports the chemical constituent yields of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) aerosol collected using a range of aerosol collection strategies. The number of puffs to deplete an ENDS product varies widely, but collections often consist of data from the first 50-100 puffs. However, it is not clear whether these discrete puff blocks are representative of constituent yields over the life of a pod. We aimed to assess the effect of differing aerosol collection strategies on reported yields for select chemical constituents in the aerosol of closed pod-based ENDS products. Constituents analyzed were chosen to reflect important classes of compounds from the Final Premarket Tobacco Product Application Guidance. Yields were normalized to total device mass loss (DML). Collection strategies that consisted of partial pod collection were valid for determining yields of constituents whose DML normalized yields were consistent for the duration of pod life. These included primary aerosol constituents, such as propylene glycol, glycerol, and nicotine, and whole pod yields could be determined from initial puff blocks. However, changes were observed in the yields of some metals, some carbonyl compounds, and glycidol over pod life in a chemical constituent and product dependent manner. These results suggest that collection strategies consisting of initial puff block collections require validation per chemical constituent/product and are not appropriate for chemical constituents with variable yields over pod life. Whole pod collection increased sensitivity and accuracy in determining metal, carbonyl, and glycidol yields compared to puff block-based collection methodologies for all products tested.
Collapse
|
5
|
Pitzer CR, Aboaziza EA, O'Reilly JM, Mandler WK, Olfert IM. Nicotine and Microvascular Responses in Skeletal Muscle from Acute Exposure to Cigarettes and Vaping. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10208. [PMID: 37373356 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite claims of safety or harm reduction for electronic cigarettes (E-cig) use (also known as vaping), emerging evidence indicates that E-cigs are not likely safe, or necessarily safer than traditional cigarettes, when considering the user's risk of developing vascular dysfunction/disease. E-cigs are different from regular cigarettes in that E-cig devices are highly customizable, and users can change the e-liquid composition (such as the base solution, flavors, and nicotine level). Since the effects of E-cigs on the microvascular responses in skeletal muscle are poorly understood, we used intravital microscopy with an acute (one-time 10 puff) exposure paradigm to evaluate the individual components of e-liquid on vascular tone and endothelial function in the arterioles of the gluteus maximus muscle of anesthetized C57Bl/6 mice. Consistent with the molecular responses seen with endothelial cells, we found that the peripheral vasoconstriction response was similar between mice exposed to E-cig aerosol or cigarette smoke (i.e., 3R4F reference cigarette); this response was not nicotine dependent, and endothelial cell-mediated vasodilation was not altered within this acute exposure paradigm. We also report that, regardless of the base solution component [i.e., vegetable glycerin (VG)-only or propylene glycol (PG)-only], the vasoconstriction responses were the same in mice with inhalation exposure to 3R4F cigarette smoke or E-cig aerosol. Key findings from this work reveal that some component other than nicotine, in inhaled smoke or aerosol, is responsible for triggering peripheral vasoconstriction in skeletal muscle, and that regardless of one's preference for an E-cig base solution composition (i.e., ratio of VG-to-PG), the acute physiological response to blood vessels appears to be the same. The data suggest that vaping is not likely to be 'safer' than smoking towards blood vessels and can be expected to produce and/or result in the same adverse vascular health outcomes associated with smoking cigarettes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Pitzer
- Division of Exercise Physiology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Eiman A Aboaziza
- West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Juliana M O'Reilly
- Division of Exercise Physiology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - W Kyle Mandler
- Division of Exercise Physiology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - I Mark Olfert
- Division of Exercise Physiology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kaplan B, Navas-Acien A, Rule AM, Hilpert M, Cohen JE. Exposure to metals among Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) users in the path study: A longitudinal analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116032. [PMID: 37137457 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have evaluated Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) in longitudinal studies, as a potential source of metals which may have carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and cardiotoxic effects. We evaluated metal body burden by ENDS use status in a longitudinal population-based national survey. METHODS We used the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study wave 1 (2013-2014), wave 2 (2014-2015), and wave 3 (2015-2016) adult data to assess urinary concentrations of seven metals among (1) ENDS only users who never used any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 50), (2) ENDS only users who were former users of any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 123) and (3) Never users (n = 1501) of any tobacco product. RESULTS Among ENDS only users who never used any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 50), the geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of Cd and Pb were 1.25 (95%CI: 1.09-1.42) and 1.19 (95%CI: 1.05-1.34), respectively, compared to never users after adjustment for PATH Study wave, age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, secondhand smoke at home and work, and cannabis and other substance use. After the same adjustment, the corresponding GMRs were 1.48 (95%CI: 1.32-1.67) and 1.43 (95%CI: 1.28-1.60) for ENDS only users who were former users of any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 123).No difference was observed in urinary concentrations of other metals comparing ENDS users to never users of any tobacco product. DISCUSSION ENDS users show higher urinary levels of Cd and Pb, including lifetime exclusive ENDS users compared to never users of any tobacco product. These findings are limited by the small sample size and could be related to underreporting of past combustible tobacco use or other factors. Metals typical of ENDS such as nickel and chromium unfortunately are not available in PATH. Studies assessing metal exposure associated with long term lifetime exclusive ENDS use (≥5 years) with larger sample size are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bekir Kaplan
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Markus Hilpert
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joanna E Cohen
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Jeon J, Zhang Q, Chepaitis PS, Greenwald R, Black M, Wright C. Toxicological Assessment of Particulate and Metal Hazards Associated with Vaping Frequency and Device Age. TOXICS 2023; 11:155. [PMID: 36851030 PMCID: PMC9967192 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11020155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) aerosols are complex mixtures of chemicals, metals, and particles that may present inhalation hazards and adverse respiratory health risks. Despite being considered a safer alternative to tobacco cigarettes, metal exposure levels and respiratory effects associated with device aging and vaping frequency have not been fully characterized. In this study, we utilize an automated multi-channel ENDS aerosol generation system (EAGS) to generate aerosols from JUUL pod-type ENDS using tobacco-flavored e-liquid. Aerosol puff fractions (1-50) and (101-150) are monitored and sampled using various collection media. Extracted aerosols are prepared for metal and toxicological analysis using human primary small airway epithelial cells (SAEC). ENDS aerosol-mediated cellular responses, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative stress, cell viability, and DNA damage, are evaluated after 24 h and 7-day exposures. Our results show higher particle concentrations in later puff fractions (0.135 mg/m3) than in initial puff fractions (0.00212 mg/m3). Later puff fraction aerosols contain higher toxic metal concentrations, including chromium, copper, and lead, which elicit increased levels of ROS followed by significant declines in total glutathione and cell viability. Notably, a 30% increase in DNA damage was observed after 7 days because of later puff fraction exposures. This work is consistent with ENDS aerosols becoming more hazardous across the use of pre-filled pod devices, which may threaten respiratory health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Jeon
- Chemical Insights Research Institute, UL Research Institutes, Marietta, GA 30067, USA
| | - Qian Zhang
- Chemical Insights Research Institute, UL Research Institutes, Marietta, GA 30067, USA
| | - Patrick S. Chepaitis
- Chemical Insights Research Institute, UL Research Institutes, Marietta, GA 30067, USA
| | - Roby Greenwald
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 303132, USA
| | - Marilyn Black
- Chemical Insights Research Institute, UL Research Institutes, Marietta, GA 30067, USA
| | - Christa Wright
- Chemical Insights Research Institute, UL Research Institutes, Marietta, GA 30067, USA
| |
Collapse
|