Disposable Puff Bar Electronic Cigarettes: Chemical Composition and Toxicity of E-liquids and a Synthetic Coolant.

Introduction:
This text provides an in-depth analysis of the chemicals found in disposable fourth-generation electronic cigarettes (ECs) called Puff Bar, specifically focusing on their chemical composition, toxicity, and health risks. The study highlights the potential dangers associated with the use of these products, particularly among young adults and adolescents.

Key Points:

* The study identified and quantified 126 flavor chemicals, two synthetic coolants (WS-3 and WS-23), and nicotine in 16 disposable Puff devices.
* all unvaped fluids were cytotoxic at dilutions between 0.1 and 10% in the MTT and neutral red uptake assays when tested with BEaS-2B lung epithelial cells.
* The cytotoxicity of Puff fluids was highly correlated with total chemical concentrations, nicotine, WS-23, both synthetic coolants, and synthetic coolants plus ethyl maltol.
* WS-3 and WS-23 concentrations were high enough in Puff products to present a health hazard, as indicated by margin of exposure data.
* The use of acids in fourth-generation ECs allows for higher nicotine concentrations while making the resulting aerosol less harsh, increasing the likelihood of addiction.
* The Food and Drug administration (FDa) enacted a ban on cartridge-based flavored EC pods in 2020, but disposable flavored EC products, such as Puff ECs, were not covered by the ban.
* The technology used by manufacturers of fourth-generation ECs, such as JUUL and Puff Bar, is innovative, with nicotine combined with an acid(s) to reduce the amount of free-base nicotine.

Main Message:
The study emphasizes the need for regulation of flavor chemicals and synthetic coolants in ECs to limit potentially harmful health effects. The high levels of cytotoxic chemicals found in disposable Puff ECs, coupled with the increasing popularity of these products among young users, highlight the urgency for stricter regulations and public awareness of the potential dangers associated with EC use.

Omaiye EE, Luo W, McWhirter KJ, Pankow JF, Talbot P. Disposable Puff Bar Electronic Cigarettes: Chemical Composition and Toxicity of E-liquids and a Synthetic Coolant. Chemical research in toxicology. 2022;35(8):1344-1358. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00423