Chemical flavorings found in e-cigarettes linked to lung disease

Diacetyl, a flavoring chemical linked to cases of severe respiratory disease, was found in more than 75 percent of flavored electronic cigarettes and refill liquids tested by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Two other related, potentially harmful compounds were also found in many of the tested flavors, which included varieties with potential appeal to young people such as cotton candy, “Fruit Squirts,” and cupcake.

The study was published online today in Environmental Health Perspectives.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the flavoring industry have warned workers about diacetyl because of the association between inhaling the chemical and the debilitating respiratory disease bronchiolitis obliterans, colloquially known as “popcorn lung” because it first appeared in workers who inhaled artificial butter flavor in microwave popcorn processing facilities.

“Recognition of the hazards associated with inhaling flavoring chemicals started with ‘popcorn lung’ over a decade ago. However, diacetyl and other related flavoring chemicals are used in many other flavors beyond butter-flavored popcorn, including fruit flavors, alcohol flavors, and, we learned in our study, candy-flavored e-cigarettes,” said lead author Joseph Allen, assistant professor of exposure assessment sciences.

There are currently more than 7,000 varieties of flavored e-cigarettes and e-juice (nicotine-containing liquid that is used in refillable devices) on the market. Although the popularity and use of e-cigarettes continues to increase, there is a lack of data on their potential health effects. E-cigarettes are not currently regulated, although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a proposed rule to include e-cigarettes under its authority to regulate certain tobacco and nicotine-containing products.

Allen and colleagues tested 51 types of flavored e-cigarettes and liquids sold by leading brands for the presence of diacetyl, acetoin, and 2,3-pentanedione, two related flavoring compounds that the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association lists as “high priority,” i.e., they may pose a respiratory hazard in the workplace. Each e-cigarette was inserted into a sealed chamber attached to a lab-built device that drew air through the e-cigarette for eight seconds at a time with a resting period of 15 or 30 second between each draw. The air stream was then analyzed.

At least one of the three chemicals was detected in 47 of the 51 flavors tested. Diacetyl was detected above the laboratory limit of detection in 39 of the flavors tested. Acetoin and 2,3-pentanedione were detected in 46 and 23 and of the flavors, respectively.

“Since most of the health concerns about e-cigarettes have focused on nicotine, there is still much we do not know about e-cigarettes. In addition to containing varying levels of the addictive substance nicotine, they also contain other cancer-causing chemicals, such as formaldehyde, and as our study shows, flavoring chemicals that can cause lung damage,” said study co-author David Christiani, Elkan Blout Professor of Environmental Genetics.

Other Harvard Chan School authors included Skye Flanigan, Mallory LeBlanc, Jose Vallarino, Piers MacNaughton, and James Stewart.

This study was supported by an NIH/NIEHS Center grant.

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szuko000 said:

My problem with all of these studies that make it seem like E-cigs are bad why do they not take the time to make them safe then? They act like the problem is the e-cigs no the problem is that they are not studying them and systematically removing the "problem compounds" Unlike burning plant matter we have the means to say "ok when e-cigs contain this, they are bad, so lets substitute it with this and test the byproducts again" Instead we get flooded with "we think everyone is stupid so we can make blanket statements like "flavorings are bad" when they vary so much in structure that they can not all be bad.

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szuko000 said:

It really just seems foolish to release statements about them being bad when one day they will be nicotine based water with a safe microwave generator, as they vaporize water and can not pass through faraday cages: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage making it a completely safe concept eventually. Will they still claim they are bad even though it is very possible to contain microwave radiation and the amount to vaporize a small amount of water is minimal. Someday they will be completely safe and they just need to accept that we are getting past burning plant matter and big tobacco must realize this too, you can delay it but you can not stop it.

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szuko000 said:

Two things I am really good at thinking I made the error whenever there is one and admitting I am wrong. And I did post a rant and your right in saying there may be unintended consequences that I didn't consider in doing so. And ya caught in me in so I will defend myself a bit because you asked

It is not all that surprising that some of the flavorings can cause issues if inhaled over extended periods of time as I would imagine a lot of them have no direct evidence to show what can happen over the long term. At best we have some tests and second hand reports that show what may happen but really people who smoke e-cigs are the test subjects for the long term. That doesn't mean we should disregard studies such as this but rather educate the public on how they can limit their exposure to the potential risks while something is done to make them safer. There will eventually come a time when a lot of the potential risks can be reduced simply though time and the systematic elimination of hazardous compounds.

As far as faraway cages it is important to view microwaves as a waves so at some point they can be reflected. If you make a small mesh with a microwave reflective surface they will bounce off of it. I can't comment on how it would work for an e-cig but microwaves get absorbed by water molecules that's how they cook our food. That means in theory you can use them to vaporize water laced with nicotine however, that doesn't mean I am investing my money on the idea.

I think it's important people realize that there are risks associated with the use of e-cigs and the real issue is that they are unknown risks. I do believe the responsibility is with the individual user to understand that the risks are largely unknown and if they choose that over the alternatives for the idea that they may benefit in the long run.

It could be argued that the sample was small but I think that it would be foolish to think that the pattern isn't reflected in the majority of brands. I would like to see more effort put into regulation as peoples lives can benefit from a tighter control on manufacture. I do feel that in time we can make something that is not exactly safe but is more then marginally better then tobacco but that doesn't mean it's happened yet.

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