Determination of Selected Chemical Levels in Room air and on Surfaces after the Use of Cartridge- and Tank-Based E-Vapor Products or Conventional Cigarettes

Introduction:
This article presents the results of a controlled clinical study investigating the release of vapor-phase nicotine, PG, glycerol, and other selected chemicals in exhaled breath and room air after use of three different EVPs and conventional cigarettes. The study was conducted in an exposure chamber with an integrated hVaC system, where the air exchange rate, temperature, and relative humidity were precisely controlled and measured.

Key Points:

* The study involved 37 healthy adult EVP users or adult CC smokers assigned to one of four study groups according to their product use.
* Room air samples were collected under four different conditions: background, baseline, pre-specified product use, and ad libitum product use.
* The primary outcome measures were the changes in the levels of nicotine, PG, glycerol, and selected analytes in RaS from baseline to product use conditions.
* The secondary outcome measures were the changes in the level of nicotine, PG, and glycerol on surface samples from baseline to product use conditions.
* The study found that cumulative 4-h levels of nicotine, PG, and glycerol measured were several-fold below the time-weighted average limits used in workplace exposure evaluation.
* Most of the other chemicals (>75%) were at or below the limit of quantification during EVP use.
* Significant levels of chemicals (17 out of 34) were observed in Group IV (CC smokers).

Main Message:
The study suggests that under the study conditions, with the products tested, the room air levels of the select measurable chemicals during the use of EVPs were relatively small and were several-fold below the current occupational regulatory and consensus limits. The study results could provide further information for the ongoing debate regarding the potential health impact for exposing non-users to chemicals from EVP use.

Liu, Jianmin, qiwei Liang, Michael Oldham, ali Rostami, Karl Wagner, I. Gillman, Piyush Patel, Rebecca Savioz, and Mohamadi Sarkar. “Determination of Selected Chemical Levels in Room air and on Surfaces after the Use of Cartridge- and Tank-Based E-Vapor Products or Conventional Cigarettes.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public health 14, no. 9 (august 28, 2017): 969. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14090969.