Distribution, quantification and toxicity of cinnamaldehyde in electronic cigarette refill fluids and aerosols

Introduction:
This article examines the distribution, quantification, and toxicity of cinnamaldehyde in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) refill fluids and aerosols. The study aims to determine the concentration and cytotoxic effects of cinnamaldehyde on human embryonic and lung cells. additionally, the authors investigate the impact of cinnamaldehyde on microtubules in human pulmonary fibroblasts.

Key Points:

* The study analyzed 39 e-cigarette refill fluids, of which 20 contained cinnamaldehyde at concentrations ranging from 2.2 to 140,000 mg/mL.
* Cinnamon Ceylon aerosol produced in a cartomizer-style e-cigarette was cytotoxic, with aerosols made using a tank/box mod e-cigarette being more cytotoxic at 5 V than 3 V.
* aerosols produced at 5 V contained 10 additional peaks not present in aerosol generated at 3 V, including 2,3-butandione (diacetyl), which was confirmed with an authentic standard.
* Cinnamaldehyde depolymerized microtubules in human pulmonary fibroblasts, affecting cell growth, attachment, spreading, morphology, motility, DNa strand breaks, and cell death.
* at concentrations that produced no effect in the MTT assay, cinnamaldehyde decreased growth, attachment, and spreading; altered cell morphology and motility; increased DNa strand breaks; and increased cell death.
* Lung cells were unable to recover from cinnamaldehyde after 2 hours of treatment, whereas embryonic cells recovered after 8 hours.

Main Message:
The study highlights the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and adverse effects of cinnamaldehyde-containing refill fluids and aerosols on adult lung and embryonic cells. These findings indicate that cinnamaldehyde in e-cigarette refill fluids/aerosols may impair homeostasis in the respiratory system, emphasizing the need for further investigation into the potential health risks associated with e-cigarette use.

Behar, Rachel Z, Wentai Luo, Sabrina C Lin, Yuhuan Wang, Jackelyn Valle, James F Pankow, and Prue Talbot. “Distribution, quantification and Toxicity of Cinnamaldehyde in Electronic Cigarette Refill Fluids and aerosols.” Tobacco Control 25, no. Suppl 2 (November 2016): ii94–102. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053224.