Red fruits, candies, popcorn, mint, vanilla, coffee… Scientific studies have pinpointed three e-liquids for electronic cigarettes that are particularly harmful to health.
Red fruits, pineapple, caramel, vanilla, iced tea, mint… A multitude of flavors are offered to vapers electronic cigarettes in the form of e-liquid. Attention, some flavors are more dangerous than others reports a study published in August 2021 in the scientific journal Pharmacology & Therapeutics. “At least 65 flavors in e-liquids for electronic cigarettes have caused toxicity in the respiratory tract, cardiovascular and circulatory systems, bones and skin. The most toxic to cells in the human body would be, in order” : cinnamaldehyde (taste cinnamon), vanillin (vanilla), menthol (mint), ethyl maltol (candy taste, pop corn or cotton candy), ethyl vanillin (vanilla), benzaldehyde (almond), linalool (fresh smell of mint aroma).
1. Cinnamon and vanilla flavors
The aromatic compounds of e-liquids such as vanillin are transformed into known carcinogens
American researchers from the University of Medicine in Rochester have studied several flavors used for electronic cigarettes. result ofstudy : “cinnamaldehyde [cannelle] and vanillin [vanille] are among the most toxic flavoring chemicals on white blood cells (monocytes)” whose role is to destroy harmful bacteria in the body, particularly associated with infections. In addition, the aromatic compounds of e-liquids such as vanillin convert to known carcinogens (benzoic acid and benzene) when heated. Another study conducted by researchers from the American Thoracic Society and published in the National Library of Medicine in March 2019 suggests that cinnamon flavoring is capable of “disrupt the immune defense system in the lungs and exacerbates the risk of getting a respiratory disease“. Their studies have shown that inhaling cinnamon-flavored e-liquid decreases the elimination of mucus and dirt in the lungs.
2. Mint flavor
The mint or menthol flavor would be particularly dangerous for the lungs. Researchers from theUniversity of Pittsburgh reported in a study published April 11, 2023 in the medical journal Respiratory Research that “the mint flavor to electronic cigarette liquids produced more toxic microparticles and is associated with poor lung function“. They add that”an analysis of e-cigarette smokers found that menthol vapers took shallower breaths and had lower lung function than non-menthol smokers”.
3. Popcorn flavor
THE diacetyl is a chemical component used in the manufacture of aromas, in particular for electronic cigarette e-liquids, to give them a buttery or creamy taste. When heated and inhaled, it would be potentially harmful report American researchers from theVirginia Commonwealth University in a study published in the National Library of Medicine in 2017. Indeed, it would have been responsible for bronchiolitis obliterans or “popcorn lung” among workers in popcorn and cookie factories in the United States. In addition, inhaling the compounds of these sweet flavors could cause fetal malformations including facial deformities such as the cleft palate at the lips.
Sources:
– The menthol flavor of e-cigarettes is associated with increased inhaled micro and submicron particles and impaired lung function in smokers of combustion cigarettesjournal Respiratory Research (BMC), April 11, 2023
– Toxicology of e-liquids containing flavors and cannabis used in electronic delivery systems, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, August 2021
– Cinnamaldehyde in flavored e-cigarette liquids temporarily suppresses ciliary motility of bronchial epithelial cells through dysregulation of mitochondrial function, American Thoracic Society, National Library of Medicine, January 3, 2019
– Inflammatory and oxidative responses induced by exposure to commonly used e-cigarette flavoring chemicals and flavored e-liquids without nicotine, Frontiers, January 11, 2018
– Exposure to e-cigarette aerosols may cause craniofacial abnormalities in Xenopus laevis embryos and mammalian neural crest cells, Virginia Commonwealth University, National Library of Medicine, September 28, 2017
– Toxicological and Analytical Evaluation of Electronic Cigarette Refill Components on Airway Epithelia, Sage Journals, December 1, 2016