The toxic potential of a fourth-generation E-cigarette on human lung cell lines and tissue explants.

Introduction:
This article presents a study on the toxic potential of a fourth-generation electronic cigarette (E-cig) on human lung cell lines and tissue explants. The study compared the aerosols generated from E-liquid with and without nicotine and cigarette smoke (K3R4F) for chemical analysis. human lung epithelial cell lines and distal lung tissue explants were exposed to E-cig vapor extract (EVE) and cigarette smoke extract for 24 hours and assessed for viability, inflammation, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity.

Key Points:

* E-cig aerosols contained measurable levels of volatile organic compounds, aldehydes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, but to a lesser extent than cigarette smoke.
* higher levels of certain carbonyls, such as formaldehyde, were detected in the E-cig aerosols.
* EVEs decreased cell viability of BEaS-2B cells, whereas little effect was seen in a549 cells and distal lung tissue.
* The nicotine-containing EVE caused a greater decrease in cell viability and significant increase in DNa damage than the nicotine-free EVE.
* Increased cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species production, and genotoxicity were seen with cells and tissue exposed to cigarette smoke extract compared with EVEs.
* although E-cig aerosols were less toxic than cigarette smoke, they were not benign, and the EVE containing nicotine was more toxic than the nicotine-free EVE.
* More research is needed on the short- and long-term health effects of vaping and the usage of newly emerging E-cig devices to evaluate better the potential negative effects of E-cigs on human health.

Main Message:
The study found that although E-cig aerosols were less toxic than cigarette smoke, they were not benign, and the EVE containing nicotine was more toxic than the nicotine-free EVE. Therefore, more research is needed to evaluate the potential negative effects of E-cigs on human health, particularly with new-generation devices. The study highlights the importance of regulatory measures to ensure the safety and quality of E-cigarettes and their components. as an expert in regulatory matters, it is crucial to consider these findings when developing policies and regulations for E-cigarettes to protect public health.

Rankin GD, Wingfors h, Uski O, et al. The toxic potential of a fourth-generation E-cigarette on human lung cell lines and tissue explants. J appl Toxicol. 2019;39:1143-1154. doi:10.1002/jat.3799