Researchers at The Centre say: “The debate over the safety and efficacy of electronic cigarettes demands strong and accurate evidence by the scientific community. The growing body of knowledge on alternative nicotine delivery systems and the potential benefits for human health if compared to conventional cigarettes pushed researchers to analyse ecig liquids, which differ in nicotine percentages, type and flavours.”
They state the e-liquid was standard, consisting of PG, VG, food flavourings, and nicotine. The substances were mixed according to the quality of the liquid or the specific marketing of the product. The team noted the potential risk from vaping a juice is related to the presence or absence of heavy metal residues or nanoplastics and microplastics in the liquids.
“Once the low risk profile of alternative nicotine delivery system is assessed, the authors of the study believe that the best way to protect the health of vapers is to prefer high-quality products” - The Centre of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction
The study was conducted in their own laboratories in Catania using “the most innovative evaluation systems in the world”.
“In addition to excluding the presence of contaminants derived from metals and microplastics and nanoplastics, [the researchers] investigated the vapor cytotoxic effect in normal human bronchial epithelial cells by a number of in vitro assays, compared to cigarette smoke.”
“The exposure system to cigarette smoke and e-cig vapor used in the labs of the research centre in Catania reproduced the human exposure of lung cells to the daily use of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, thus reporting certain and irrefutable results” - The Centre of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction
Professor Massimo Caruso of the University of Catania and author of the study said he was, “satisfied with the significantly reduced (about 80% less) cytotoxic effect of the aerosol of all four liquids compared to cigarette smoke”.
The data was confirmed by Professor Giovanni Li Volti, director of CoEHAR, who added: “The cells exposed to e-cig vapours also maintained excellent integrity of the mitochondria, highlighting a negligible effect, not significant even on cellular metabolism. Furthermore, no production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and therefore of oxidative stress in the electronic cigarette aerosol was detected.”
References:
- In vitro cytoxicity profile of e-cigarette liquid samples on primary human bronchial epithelial cells - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35434934/
