Environmental health hazards of e-cigarettes and their components: Oxidants and copper in e-cigarette aerosols. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lerner, Chad A.; Sundar, Isaac K.; Watson, Richard M.; Elder, Alison; Jones, Ryan; Done, Douglas; Kurtzman, Rachel; Ossip, Deborah J.; Robinson, Risa; McIntosh, Scott; Rahman, Irfan
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 198(2015)
• Page Start: 100
• Page End: 107
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Electronic cigarettes -- ENDS -- ROS -- Oxidants -- Copper -- EPR; DCFH-DA 2′-7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate -- DCFH 2′-7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein -- e-cigarette electronic cigarette -- ENDS electronic nicotine delivery systems -- EPR electron paramagnetic resonance -- LIB lithium-ion battery -- ROS reactive oxygen species -- MMAD mass median aerodynamic diameter; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.12.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: To narrow the gap in our understanding of potential oxidative properties associated with Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) i.e. e-cigarettes, we employed semi-quantitative methods to detect oxidant reactivity in disposable components of ENDS/e-cigarettes (batteries and cartomizers) using a fluorescein indicator. These components exhibit oxidants/reactive oxygen species reactivity similar to used conventional cigarette filters. Oxidants/reactive oxygen species reactivity in e-cigarette aerosols was also similar to oxidant reactivity in cigarette smoke. A cascade particle impactor allowed sieving of a range of particle size distributions between 0.450 and 2.02 μm in aerosols from an e-cigarette. Copper, being among these particles, is 6.1 times higher per puff than reported previously for conventional cigarette smoke. The detection of a potentially cytotoxic metal as well as oxidants from e-cigarette and its components raises concern regarding the safety of e-cigarettes use and the disposal of e-cigarette waste products into the environment. Graphical abstract: Highlights: E-cigarettes disposal is associated with environmental health hazard/pollution. Oxidants associated with electronic cigarette components and aerosols. Metal copper and nanoparticles detected in electronic cigarette aerosols. Environmental disposal of e-cigarettes components must be regulated with guidelines. Abstract : An electronic cigarette with disposable cartomizer exhibits oxidant reactivity similar to conventional cigarettes and releases copper and other particles associated with its aerosols.