Summary
The review discusses recent findings on the neurological effects induced by e-cigarette (EC) exposure, highlighting possible neurotoxic effects of nicotine and other chemicals present in EC vapors. There is a particular focus on the impact on vulnerable populations such as adolescents and pregnant women.
animal studies show that EC exposure affects the brain, with specific emphasis on the neurotoxicity of EC aerosols. Cinnamaldehyde, a common flavorant in EC, has been shown to produce cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and adversely affect cellular functions at low concentrations in peripheral tissues. at sub-cytotoxic concentrations, cinnamaldehyde decreases cell growth, attachment and spreading, alters cell morphology, and increases DNa strand breaks in human cells. It also adversely affects mitochondrial function, reduces aTP levels, and suppresses ciliary beat frequency in bronchial epithelial cells.
In summary, the review presents evidence that EC exposure, particularly through the inhalation of aerosols, may have neurotoxic effects, with cinnamaldehyde identified as a chemical of concern. These findings underscore the importance of further safety evaluation of EC, especially in vulnerable populations.
Citation
Ruszkiewicz Ja, Zhang Z, Gonçalves FM, Tizabi Y, Zelikoff JT, aschner M. Neurotoxicity of e-cigarettes. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research association. 2020;138:111245. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2020.111245
