Response to Comment on "Flavoring Chemicals in E-Cigarettes: Diacetyl, 2,3-Pentanedione, and Acetoin in a Sample of 51 Products, Including Fruit-, Candy-, and Cocktail-Flavored E-Cigarettes"

Introduction:
This text is a response to a letter from Pierce et al. regarding a study on the presence of diacetyl and other flavoring chemicals in e-cigarettes. The authors of the response, experts in regulatory matters, defend their original research and point out inaccuracies in Pierce et al.'s analysis. The reader will learn about the study design, major points of the response, and the main message of the importance of evaluating the potential hazards of diacetyl in e-cigarettes.

Key Points:

* The study found diacetyl and other flavoring chemicals in many flavored e-cigarettes.
* Pierce et al. misrepresented their own earlier work on diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione levels in consumer products.
* The authors stand by their position that using occupational exposure limits for the general public is inappropriate.
* Exposure to diacetyl from e-cigarettes could lead to respiratory risks, as shown by cases of bronchiolitis obliterans in coffee processing workers.
* The comparison of diketone exposures from e-cigarettes and cigarettes is misleading and ignores the potential risks to children who use e-cigarettes.
* The authors declare no actual or potential competing financial interest.

Main Message:
The main message of this text is the importance of evaluating the potential hazards associated with diacetyl and other flavoring chemicals in e-cigarettes. The authors defend their study and point out inaccuracies in Pierce et al.'s analysis, emphasizing the need for further investigation and regulation to protect consumers. The text also highlights the potential risks to children who use e-cigarettes, a growing concern in public health. Overall, the authors stress the importance of providing accurate information and warnings to consumers about the potential hazards of e-cigarettes.

Allen, Joseph G., Skye S. Flanigan, Mallory LeBlanc, Jose Vallarino, Piers MacNaughton, James H. Stewart, and David C. Christiani. “Response to "Comment on 'Flavoring Chemicals in E-Cigarettes: Diacetyl, 2,3-Pentanedione, and Acetoin in a Sample of 51 Products, Including Fruit-, Candy-, and Cocktail-Flavored E-Cigarettes'”" Environmental Health Perspectives 124, no. 6 (June 2016): A102-A103.