Pollutants in E-Cigarettes Alarmingly High
Researchers detect high lead concentration in e-cigarette vapor
The level was so high that they thought their measuring device was broken: US researchers have detected lead in the vapor of popular manufacturers’ disposable vapes. The problem likely extends beyond the liquid itself.
According to a recent study, tobacco is responsible for one in eight deaths, with contact with the drug reportedly killing around seven million people worldwide in 2023. So, is it better to switch to e-cigarettes to protect one’s health? The electronic alternatives are colorful, appear harmless, and their flavors range from Apple Peach to Lemon Mint to Watermelon Mojito. However, a new study from the USA once again underscores just how harmful disposable e-cigarettes can be.
According to his own account, toxicologist Mark Salazar first encountered a disposable e-cigarette at a friend’s house. Out of curiosity, he took the device to his office and tested the vapor. “When I first saw the lead concentrations, they were so high that I thought our device was faulty,” Salazar stated. “That prompted us to examine these disposable products more closely.”
While the so-called vape pods do not contain tobacco, they do contain a nicotine-containing liquid that vaporizes when used. For their investigation, toxicologists led by Salazar from the University of California in Davis compared what is actually present in the liquids and vapors of seven disposable vapes. They published their findings in the journal “ACS Central Science”.
Lead in Vapor
According to the researchers, some devices emitted surprisingly high concentrations of metals such as lead and antimony in their vapors. Concentrations of chromium and nickel increased with an increasing number of puffs. The study found that most of the tested disposable e-cigarettes released significantly higher amounts of metals and metalloids into the vapors than older models of refillable e-cigarettes.
“We found that these disposable devices either already contain toxins in the e-liquid or these toxins migrate in large quantities from their components into the e-liquids and are ultimately transferred into the vapor,” Salazar stated. Some devices contained lead-bearing components with bronze alloy that released nickel and lead into the e-liquid.
Nickel was also reportedly released from heating coils. Antimony was present in high concentrations in unused e-liquids. According to the research team, both metals increase the risk of cancer. Furthermore, the vapors from four of the devices showed nickel and lead emissions that exceeded health risk limits for diseases such as cancer, neurological damage, and respiratory illnesses.
WHO Sounds the Alarm
For the study, researchers tested only seven devices from the three most popular of nearly one hundred disposable e-cigarette manufacturers on the US market. Nevertheless, the results are cause for concern given the popularity of e-cigarettes, especially among young people. There are reportedly few studies on these relatively new devices, and further research is needed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently expressed criticism of e-cigarettes. There is still no data on how many people use such products. Given the harmful substances they contain, the WHO recommends a comprehensive ban on flavored products, as they target young people with flavors like gummy bears or cotton candy.
Applicability to Humans?
Whether these findings are transferable to humans remains an open question. The authors write: “Our results provide mechanistic insights into EBV-induced B-cell dysregulation and suggest that curbing their migration could be a possible approach to reduce the pathogenic effect of EBV-infected cells.” Should the mechanism be confirmed, it could help to specifically address the virus’s role in autoimmune diseases like MS – and potentially protect against long-term sequelae.
The study, titled “Epstein–Barr virus induces aberrant B cell migration and diapedesis via FAK-dependent chemotaxis pathways,” was published in the journal Nature Communications. In addition to German institutions, research facilities in Lyon were also involved, including Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and Inserm.
Source: https://www.apotheke-adhoc.de/nachrichten/detail/pharmazie/krebs-und-ms-virus-manipuliert-immunsystem/#