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 article discusses a study on the presence of certain flavoring chemicals in e-cigarettes and their potential health risks. The study tested a convenience sample of 51 flavored e-cigarettes for the flavoring chemicals diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, and acetoin. The key points and main message of the article are summarized below.

Key Points:

* at least one of the flavoring chemicals was detected in 47 of the 51 unique flavors tested (92%).
* Diacetyl was detected in 39 of the 51 flavors tested, ranging from below the limit of quantification to 239 µg/e-cigarette.
* 2,3-Pentanedione and acetoin were detected in 23 and 46 of the 51 flavors tested at concentrations up to 64 and 529 µg/e-cigarette, respectively.
* Diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione were detected simultaneously in 21 unique flavors, and 2,3-pentanedione and acetoin were also detected simultaneously in 22 flavors.
* The three compounds were detected in all flavor types, except for 2,3-pentanedione in dairy-flavored e-cigarettes, which only had two samples.
* There are no health-based standards for diacetyl inhalation for the general public, and no standards for children.
* The study suggests that urgent action is needed to further evaluate the potential health risks of diacetyl and other flavoring chemicals in e-cigarettes.

Main Message:
The study highlights the widespread presence of diacetyl and other flavoring chemicals in e-cigarettes, which have been associated with severe respiratory disease in workers. The lack of health-based standards and regulations for e-cigarettes and their flavoring chemicals is a cause for concern. The study emphasizes the need for further evaluation of the potential health risks of these chemicals and the implementation of appropriate regulations to protect public health.

allen, Joseph G., Skye S. Flanigan, Mallory LeBlanc, Jose Vallarino, Piers MacNaughton, James h. Stewart, and David C. Christiani. “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): 733–39. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510185.