Summary
Introduction: This study examines the acute in vitro effects of commercially available CBD-containing e-cigarette aerosols on bronchial epithelial cells using an established air-liquid interface (aLI) model. The study compares the effects of flavored and unflavored CBD-containing and CBD-free aerosols generated from an eGO tank system.
Key Points:
* CBD in e-cigarette aerosols shows cytotoxic effects on bronchial epithelial cells.
* PG + CBD refill solutions resulted in increased release of several pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1 β, CXCL1, and CXCL10.
* Different flavors in CBD-containing products showed different cytotoxic effects.
* Solvents used in e-cigarettes may also independently contribute to the cytotoxic effects of the aerosols emitted from those devices.
* Some commercially purchased products were more cytotoxic than others due to differing flavoring chemical present in the various refill solutions.
* Flavored refill solutions with CBD resulted in a significant increase in cytotoxicity and production of pro-inflammatory mediators as compared to the unflavored controls containing only CBD.
* Identification of highly cytotoxic flavoring chemicals may inform development of product standards and future products regulation to assure consumer safety.
Main Message: This study highlights the potential harmful respiratory effects of flavorings and CBD when inhaled simultaneously with aerosols emitted from e-cigarettes. as use of cannabis-derived vaping products are increasing, studies are urgently needed to evaluate potential health consequences, particularly respiratory effects on chronic inhalation of flavored CBD-containing vaping products.
Citation
Leigh NJ, Goniewicz ML. acute Effect of Electronic Cigarette-Generated aerosol From Flavored CBD-Containing Refill Solutions on human Bronchial Epithelial Cells. Frontiers in physiology. 2020;11:592321. doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.592321
