Daily exposure to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde and potential health risk associated with use of high and low nicotine e-liquid concentrations.

Introduction:
This text is a scientific report on a study examining the daily exposure and cancer risk potencies associated with the usage patterns of e-cigarettes under different nicotine concentration and voltage settings. The study aimed to assess any influence of changing usage patterns (compensatory puffing) on daily exposure to carbonyls and cancer risk potencies.

Key Points:

* The study used real-life topography data gathered over one week in a linked study previously published.
* The same e-liquids and devices as in the previous study were used, and the mean puffing topography data from each participant under each experimental setting were used as in the previous study.
* The main aim of the study was to assess any influence of changing usage patterns (compensatory puffing) of the same device under different nicotine concentration and voltage settings on daily exposure to carbonyls and cancer risk potencies.
* The study also estimated the daily aerosol yield and nicotine exposure associated with the usage patterns under each condition.
* The study found that significantly more participants increased their daily aerosol yield exposure, formaldehyde exposure, and acetaldehyde exposure in both the fixed and adjustable voltage settings when using the lower nicotine concentration e-liquid.
* The study also found that depending on experimental settings, cancer potency factor can increase two to two and a half times for users switching from 18 to 6 mg/mL nicotine e-liquids.
* The study also compared the cancer potency of e-cigarette aerosol to medical inhalers, tobacco cigarettes, and the CRI methodology.

Main Message:
The main message of the study is that changing usage patterns (compensatory puffing) of the same device under different nicotine concentration and voltage settings can significantly impact daily exposure to carbonyls and cancer risk potencies. The study found that using a lower nicotine concentration e-liquid was associated with higher formaldehyde and acetaldehyde exposure regardless of whether voltage settings were fixed or adjustable, resulting in an estimated 2 fold increase in cancer risk. The study also suggests that a combination of effective nicotine delivery and low carbonyl emissions may reduce potential health risk from vaping. The study highlights the importance of understanding the potential health risks associated with e-cigarette usage and the need for effective regulations to minimize those risks.

Kosmider L, Cox S, Zaciera M, et al. Daily exposure to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde and potential health risk associated with use of high and low nicotine e-liquid concentrations. Scientific reports. 2020;10(1):6546. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-63292-1 1983.