Chemical analysis and in vitro toxicological evaluation of aerosol from a novel tobacco vapor product: a comparison with cigarette smoke

Introduction:
This article presents a study on the chemical and toxicological properties of a novel tobacco vapor product (NTV) compared to traditional cigarettes. The NTV uses a nicotine-free carrier liquid that is vaporized and then passed through a tobacco capsule to absorb tobacco-derived flavors and nicotine. The study aims to understand the chemical characteristics and in vitro mutagenicity, genotoxicity, and cytotoxicity of the NTV aerosol.

Key Points:

* The study compares the NTV aerosol with the 3R4F cigarette smoke, which is a representative of combustible cigarettes.
* The NTV consists of a push-activated electrical heating device, a cartridge containing a nicotine-free carrier liquid, and a tobacco capsule containing granulated tobacco.
* The chemical analysis of the emissions shows that the NTV aerosol has lower yields of certain biologically-active smoke constituents, such as ho ffmann analytes, compared to the 3R4F cigarette smoke.
* The in vitro toxicological evaluation using the bacterial reverse mutation test (ames assay), the in vitro micronucleus (MN) assay, and the neutral red uptake (NRU) assay shows that the NTV aerosol has lower in vitro genotoxic and cytotoxic responses compared to the 3R4F cigarette smoke.
* The temperature inside the tobacco capsule of the NTV during aerosol generation was measured and found to be approximately 30 °C, which may explain the lower ho ffmann analyte emission and in vitro toxicity levels.

Main Message:
The study suggests that the aerosol from the NTV has a very different toxicological profile compared to combustible cigarette smoke. The lower yields of ho ffmann analytes and the lower in vitro genotoxic and cytotoxic responses support the potential of NTV to reduce the health risks associated with the continued use of tobacco products. however, further investigations on exposure levels of smoke constituents to human subjects under actual usage conditions and on biological responses in clinical and non-clinical endpoints are needed to substantiate these potential health benefits.

Takahashi, Yasunori, Yuki Kanemaru, Toshiro Fukushima, Kentaro Eguchi, Shinya Yoshida, Jacqueline Miller-holt, and Ian Jones. “Chemical analysis and in Vitro Toxicological Evaluation of aerosol from a Novel Tobacco Vapor Product: a Comparison with Cigarette Smoke.” Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 92 (February 2018): 94–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.11.009.