The popularity of e-cigarettes among young adults continues to rise, with mint and menthol flavors being among the most popular. However, recent research from the University of Pittsburgh has shown that adding mint flavor to e-cigarette liquids can lead to more toxic particles being produced, which can have serious implications for lung health.
Using a specially designed robotic system, researchers were able to mimic human breathing and vaping behavior to test the effects of menthol in e-cigarette liquids. The results showed that commercially available e-cigarette liquids containing menthol generate a greater number of toxic microparticles compared to menthol-free juice.
Additionally, an analysis of patient records from a cohort of e-cigarette smokers revealed that menthol vapers had poorer lung function compared to non-menthol smokers, regardless of age, gender, race, pack-years of smoking, and the use of nicotine or cannabis-containing vaping products.
It's important to note that even nicotine-free vaping mixtures contain many compounds that can potentially damage the lungs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to put pressure on cigarette manufacturers to eliminate menthol in combustible tobacco products, such as regular cigarettes and cigars, but the market for vaping products worldwide continues to expand.
Traditional toxicity testing, which involves animals or living cells grown on a flat surface, can take weeks or months to produce high-quality and clinically relevant data, making it difficult for regulatory bodies to test products' safety in a timely manner. Mice and rats, animals primarily used to test aerosolized products' safety and biological impact, have very different anatomy of their nasal passages compared to humans, which prevents them from taking an active breath through the mouth akin to taking a cigarette puff.
To improve preclinical testing of how mixing vaping liquids and adding flavorings impact vapor composition and its health effects, researchers developed a biologically inspired "vaping robot." By precisely mimicking the temperature, humidity, puff volume and duration, this machine can simulate the pattern of healthy and diseased breathing and reliably predict lung toxicity related to e-cigarettes.
The study suggests that menthol additives could be just as dangerous as vitamin E acetate, which was strongly linked to lung injury in users of e-cigarettes and vapes. While switching to e-cigarettes may be a better, safer alternative for someone who is trying to quit smoking regular tobacco products, it's important to have full knowledge of e-cigarettes' risks and benefits before trying them.
The Dangers of Menthol in E-Cigarettes
How Menthol Can Lead to More Toxic Particles Being Produced
The University of Pittsburgh's study found that adding mint flavor to e-cigarette liquids produces more vapor particles and is associated with worse lung function in those who smoke. The robotic system developed by the researchers showed that commercially available e-cigarette liquids containing menthol generate a greater number of toxic microparticles compared to menthol-free juice.
Menthol Vapers Had Poorer Lung Function Compared to Non-Menthol Smokers
The study also analyzed patient records from a cohort of e-cigarette smokers and found that menthol vapers had poorer lung function compared to non-menthol smokers, regardless of age, gender, race, pack-years of smoking, and the use of nicotine or cannabis-containing vaping products.
The Risks of Vaping
Many people, especially youth, assume that vaping is safe. However, even nicotine-free vaping mixtures contain many compounds that can potentially damage the lungs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to put pressure on cigarette manufacturers to eliminate menthol in combustible tobacco products, such as regular cigarettes and cigars, but the market for vaping products worldwide continues to expand.
The Limitations of Traditional Toxicity Testing
Traditional toxicity testing, which involves animals or living cells grown on a flat surface, has limitations in testing the safety of vaping products. Mice and rats, which are primarily used to test aerosolized products' safety and biological impact, have very different anatomy of their nasal passages compared to humans, which prevents them from taking an active breath through the mouth akin to taking a cigarette puff. Cell systems used for toxicity testing are either directly exposed to e-liquid on contact or are blasted with continuous aerosols that don't account for human breathing patterns.
Developing a Biologically Inspired "Vaping Robot"
To improve preclinical testing of how mixing vaping liquids and adding flavorings impact vapor composition and its health effects, researchers developed a biologically inspired "vaping robot." By precisely mimicking the temperature, humidity, puff volume and duration, this machine can simulate the pattern of healthy and diseased breathing and reliably predict lung toxicity related to e-cigarettes.
The Dangers of Menthol Additives
The study suggests that menthol additives could be just as dangerous as vitamin E acetate, which was strongly linked to lung injury in users of e-cigarettes and vapes. While switching to e-cigarettes may be a better, safer alternative for someone who is trying to quit smoking regular tobacco products, it's important to have full knowledge of e-cigarettes' risks and benefits before trying them.
In conclusion, adding mint flavor to e-cigarette liquids can lead to more toxic particles being produced, which can have serious implications for lung health. The popularity of vaping products worldwide continues to expand, especially among young adults. It's important to have full knowledge of e-cigarettes' risks and benefits before trying them, and the study suggests that menthol additives could be just as dangerous as vitamin E acetate.
FAQs
Is vaping with mint flavor safe?
No, adding mint flavor to e-cigarette liquids can lead to more toxic particles being produced, which can have serious implications for lung health.Can switching to e-cigarettes help someone quit smoking regular tobacco products?
Switching to e-cigarettes may be a better, safer alternative for someone who is trying to quit smoking regular tobacco products, but it's important to have full knowledge of e-cigarettes' risks and benefits before trying them.Why is it important to have full knowledge of e-cigarettes' risks and benefits before trying them?
Even nicotine-free vaping mixtures contain many compounds that can potentially damage the lungs.What is the biologically inspired "vaping robot"?
The biologically inspired "vaping robot" is a machine that can simulate the pattern of healthy and diseased breathing and reliably predict lung toxicity related to e-cigarettes.What are the limitations of traditional toxicity testing?
Traditional toxicity testing, which involves animals or living cells grown on a flat surface, has limitations in testing the safety of vaping products. Mice and rats, which are primarily used to test aerosolized products' safety and biological impact, have very different anatomy of their nasal passages compared to humans, and cell systems used for toxicity testing are either directly exposed to e-liquid on contact or are blasted with continuous aerosols that don't account for human breathing patterns.
