NEW BAD NEWS FOR E-CIGARET USERS: Tastes are only toxic chemicals, scientists warn

A recently published study found that chemicals and liquids used in aromatic e-cigarettes could result in a "significant inflammation" of monocytes, white blood cells in the body

In addition, the study pointed out that many of these compounds are poisonous - with cinnamon, vanilla and taste of the pots being ranked worst - and that the blending of e-cigarette smell affects the body more, compared to just one type of taste. The study, which was published in the Frontiers in Physiology journal, showed an increasing weight of growing evidence of e-cigarette hazards for human health.

Researchers from Rochester University Medical Center led a study that explored the truth after claiming that evaporating e-cigarettes, which are nicotine-free, were safer than conventional cigarettes. It has been noted that e-cigarettes slowly gain popularity in countries like the US, where there are nearly 500 available brands with 7,700 different tastes.

Chemicals, when used in food, are classified as safe (GRAS). In addition, e-cigarettes are advertised as a better alternative to cigarettes, and flavors are considered safe for consumption. This has led to an increase in the number of e-cigarette users, especially among young people, over the past two years. Research has shown that young people who start e-cigarettes are later transferred to regular cigarettes.

Previous studies have already shown that the flavors used in e-cigarettes were responsible for inflammatory and oxidative reactions to stress in lung cells. Moreover, there was an increase in the level of oxidative stress found in the blood of people who smoked e-cigarettes. The present study aims to check these claims, in particular its effect on monocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system.

Researchers have found that aromatic chemicals and e-fluids result in an increased level of biomarkers for inflammation and tissue damage from oxidative stress. Moreover, some chemicals have also caused significant cell death. "Cinnamon, vanilla and potato taste are the chemical compounds that are the most harmful, but our research has shown that mixing the taste of e-fluids is caused by far the most toxicity to white blood cells," - said the author of the study, dr. Thivanka Muthumalage.

In the meantime, the senior author dr. Irfan Rahman hopes that the data collected by the research will open up new research methods to further investigate the harmful effects of aromatized nicotine-free e-cigarettes.

"Currently, it is not regulated, and attractive taste names, such as sweets, cakes, cinnamon and mystery, attract young people," he said. "Our scientific findings show that e-cigarette flavors can and should be regulated and that flasks with e-flavors must have a list of all ingredients. We urge regulatory agencies to act to protect public health. " The researchers concluded that cinnamaldehyde, vanillin and pentandion are the most toxic aromatic chemicals that affect monocytes. Many other chemicals and e-fluids also caused inflammation in white blood cells, and the mixing of taste caused the highest level of cytotoxicity (or cell death).

• 15 Jul, 2018
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