Chemical and Toxicological Characterization of Vaping Emission Products from Commonly Used Vape Juice Diluents.

Introduction:
This article, entitled "Chemical and Toxicological Characterization of Vaping Emission Products from Commonly Used Vape Juice Diluents," examines the formation of toxic byproducts during the vaping process and their impact on human airway epithelial cells. The study focuses on seven commonly used vape juice diluents in ThC-infused e-cigarette cartridges and analyzes the chemical composition of unvaped liquid diluents and collected vaping emission condensates. human bronchial epithelial cells (BEaS-2B) were exposed to emission samples collected in LhC-9 cell medium, and cell viability and cytotoxicity were examined using XTT and LDh assays.

Key Points:

* The study examines seven commonly used vape juice diluents: PG, VG, MCT oil, SqL, VE, VEa, and TEC.
* GC/EI-MS and ESI-q-TOF-MS techniques were used to analyze the chemical composition of unvaped liquid diluents and collected vaping emission condensates.
* BEaS-2B cells were exposed to emission samples collected in LhC-9 cell medium, and cell viability and cytotoxicity were examined.
* The study found that changes in chemical composition of liquid diluents during vaping may modulate the cellular toxicity in human airway epithelial cells.
* The formation of toxic byproducts, such as quinones, carbonyls, esters, and alkyl alcohols, was observed in the vaping emissions.
* The resulting vaping emissions condensates caused inhibited cell proliferation and enhanced cytotoxicity in human airway epithelial cells.
* The study found substantial formation of the duroquinone and durohydroquinone redox couple in the vaping emissions from vitamin E acetate, which may be linked to acute oxidative stress and lung injuries reported in previous studies.

Main Message:
This study provides an improved molecular understanding of the toxic byproducts formed during the vaping process and their impact on human airway epithelial cells. The findings highlight the significant role of toxic byproducts in vaping-associated health effects, particularly in the context of the recent outbreaks of lung injuries and deaths linked to the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products. The study underscores the urgent need for further research to evaluate sublethal toxicological endpoints and provide better insights into vaping-induced long-term health effects.

Jiang h, ahmed CMS, Martin TJ, et al. Chemical and Toxicological Characterization of Vaping Emission Products from Commonly Used Vape Juice Diluents. Chemical research in toxicology. 2020;33(8):2157-2163. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00174