Health Hazard Toxic metals are contained in the vapor of e-cigarettes

Lead, chromium and arsenic in the vapor of e-cigarettes

Significant amounts of toxic metals, including lead, appear to come out of some e-cigarette heating coils and are contained in users' inhaled aerosols. These metals taken by users can damage the lungs, the liver, the cardiovascular system and the brain. In addition, they have already been linked to the development of cancer.

Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found in their recent research that so-called e-cigarettes often generate a significant number of aerosols with potentially unsafe levels of lead, chromium, manganese and nickel. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "Environmental Health Perspectives".

The vapor of e-cigarettes can contain toxic metals and even arsenic. (Image: tibanna79 / fotolia.com)

Heating spiral origin of the metals?

In a sample of e-cigarette devices from a total of 56 users, the experts found that the heating coils of the devices released aerosols with toxic metals, which are inhaled by the users. Chronic inhalation of these metals damages many organs, such as the brain and heart, and may contribute to the development of cancer.

Users need to be informed about risks

"It is important for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the e-cigarette companies and the users themselves to know that the heating coils, as they are currently produced, release toxic metals, which then pass into the aerosols, the Inhale users, "explains study author Dr. Ana María Rule of the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

How do e-cigarettes work??

E-cigarettes typically use battery powered electrical current that flows through a metal coil to heat so-called liquids, thereby creating an aerosol. The mixture contains the vaporized liquid and tiny liquid droplets. This aerosol is inhaled like cigarette smoke. The process is called evaporation. The use of e-cigarettes is very popular with teenagers, young adults and former smokers.

Why are e-cigarettes so popular?

Vaporizing is so popular because it creates the kick of nicotine and gives you the feeling of smoking, but supposedly without the extreme health risks. However, there is more and more evidence that evaporation is not entirely safe. For example, recent studies have already shown that e-cigarettes contain flavors and other chemicals that damage cells in standard toxicological tests.

56 e-cigarettes from daily users were examined

In their study, the physicians examined the devices of 56 daily e-cigarette users in the fall of 2015. The devices were brought by the participants in the lab of researchers Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. There, the scientists tested the presence of 15 metals in the so-called e-liquids and in the generated aerosols.

Metals probably came from the heating coils

Consistent with previous studies, they found minimal amounts of metals in the fluids within the so-called refill dispensers, but much larger amounts of some metals in the fluids exposed to the heating coils in e-cigarettes. The difference indicated that the metals almost certainly came from the heating coils. Most importantly, the scientists were able to show that the metal contamination is transferred to the aerosols that are generated by the heating of the fluids.

So-called liquids are evaporated in an e-cigarette. (Image: Jamrooferpix / fotolia.com)

Which metals were contained in the vapor?

Of the metals that are significantly present in the aerosols, lead, chromium, nickel and manganese were the most worrying substances, since all are toxic when inhaled, the researchers explain. For example, the median lead concentration in the aerosols was about 15 μg / kg or more. This was 25 times more than the median value in the refill dispensers. Almost 50 percent of the aerosol samples had lead concentrations higher than the Environmental Protection Agency defined health thresholds. Similarly, the median aerosol concentrations of nickel, chromium and manganese reached or exceeded the safety limits.

Concentrations were often well above safe limits

These were only averages, Dr. Rule. "The actual concentrations of these metals varied widely from sample to sample, often far exceeding safe levels," adds the expert in a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health press release.

How do metals get out of the heating coil into the liquid??

E-cigarette heating coils are typically made of nickel, chrome, and some other elements, making them the most obvious sources of metal contamination, although the source of the lead remains a mystery. Getting metals out of the coil into the surrounding fluid is another puzzle. "We do not yet know whether metals chemically escape from the coil or evaporate on heating," says Dr. Rule continues. In a previous study of the 56 users, the nickel and chromium levels of their urine and saliva were similar to those in the aerosol, confirming that e-cigarette users are exposed to these metals.

Arsenic may also be contained in the vapor

The researchers also detected significant levels of arsenic - a metal-like element that can be very toxic - in refill liquids and in the corresponding e-liquid in the tanks of the equipment and in the aerosol samples on 10 of the 56 devices tested. Further studies must now be carried out to determine the actual health effects. (As)