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An Unrecognized Hazard in E-Cigarette Vapor: Preliminary Quantification of Methylglyoxal Formation from Propylene Glycol in E-Cigarettes

Author

Listed:
  • Parham Azimi

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Zahra Keshavarz

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Marianne Lahaie Luna

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
    Occupational & Environmental Health Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada)

  • Jose Guillermo Cedeno Laurent

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Jose Vallarino

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • David C. Christiani

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Joseph G. Allen

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

Abstract

Up to 95% of the liquid volume in an e-cigarette consists of propylene glycol. Previous research has shown that propylene glycol can generate diacetyl and formaldehyde when heated. New research shows that propylene glycol can also generate methylglyoxal, an alpha di-carbonyl compound recently shown to cause epithelial necrosis at even lower concentrations than diacetyl, the flavoring chemical associated with bronchiolitis obliterans (“Popcorn Lung”). We analyzed chemical emissions from 13 JUUL pod flavors. Diacetyl and methylglyoxal was detected in 100% of samples with median concentration (range) of 20 µg/m 3 (less than limit of quantification: 54 µg/m 3 ) and 4219 µg/m 3 (677–15,342 µg/m 3 ), respectively. We also detected acetaldehyde (median concentration: 341 µg/m 3 ) and propionaldehyde (median concentration: 87 µg/m 3 ) in all samples. The recent evidence that methylglyoxal is more cytotoxic to airway epithelial cells than diacetyl makes this an urgent public health concern. Current smokers considering e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool, and never users, who may be under the impression that e-cigarettes are harmless, need information on emissions and potential risks to make informed decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Parham Azimi & Zahra Keshavarz & Marianne Lahaie Luna & Jose Guillermo Cedeno Laurent & Jose Vallarino & David C. Christiani & Joseph G. Allen, 2021. "An Unrecognized Hazard in E-Cigarette Vapor: Preliminary Quantification of Methylglyoxal Formation from Propylene Glycol in E-Cigarettes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:385-:d:475794
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cobb, N.K. & Byron, M.J. & Abrams, D.B. & Shields, P.G., 2010. "Novel nicotine delivery systems and public health: The rise of the "E-Cigarette"," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(12), pages 2340-2342.
    2. Vincent Varlet & Konstantinos Farsalinos & Marc Augsburger & Aurélien Thomas & Jean-François Etter, 2015. "Toxicity Assessment of Refill Liquids for Electronic Cigarettes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-20, April.
    3. Kanae Bekki & Shigehisa Uchiyama & Kazushi Ohta & Yohei Inaba & Hideki Nakagome & Naoki Kunugita, 2014. "Carbonyl Compounds Generated from Electronic Cigarettes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-9, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hsien-Chang Lin & Anne Buu & Wei-Chung Su, 2022. "Disposable E-Cigarettes and Associated Health Risks: An Experimental Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Anca Maria Pop & Raluca Coroș & Alexandra Mihaela Stoica & Monica Monea, 2021. "Early Diagnosis of Oral Mucosal Alterations in Smokers and E-Cigarette Users Based on Micronuclei Count: A Cross-Sectional Study among Dental Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-10, December.

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