Toxic vaping
By RCSI
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The research team at RCSI University of Medicine and
Health Sciences, Dublin, used artificial intelligence (AI) to
simulate the effects of heating e-liquid flavor chemicals found in nicotine
vapes. They included all 180 known e-liquid flavor chemicals, predicting the
new compounds formed when these substances are heated within a vaping device
immediately prior to inhalation.
The analysis revealed the formation of many hazardous
chemicals including 127 which are classified as ‘Acute Toxic’, 153 as ‘Health
Hazards’, and 225 as ‘Irritants’. Notably, these included a group of chemicals
called volatile carbonyls (VCs) which are known to pose health risks. Sources
for VCs were predicted to be the most popular fruit, candy, and
dessert-flavored products.
Lead author, Professor Donal O’Shea, Professor of Chemistry and Head of Department, said the findings are very concerning: “We wanted to understand, before it’s too late, the likely impact flavored vapes are having on the health of the growing number of vapers. Our findings indicate a significantly different profile of chemical hazards compared to what we are familiar with from traditional tobacco smoking.”
“It is plausible that we are on the cusp of a new wave of
chronic diseases that will emerge 15 to 20 years from now due to these
exposures. We hope this research will help people make more informed choices
and contribute to the conversation on the potential long-term health risks and
the regulation of vaping, which this research suggests should be
comprehensive.”
Complexity of Vaping Products
The study also highlighted the complexities introduced by
the huge array of flavors available in vaping products, which include 180
different chemicals blended in various amounts. This cocktail of chemicals,
primarily derived from the food industry where they have a good safety record
for specific uses, were never intended to be heated to high temperatures for
inhalation.
As vaping devices vary widely and are often
user-customized, the temperature control and resulting chemical reactions can
differ, increasing the unpredictability of potential health risks. This
variability requires further research using the AI framework established in
this study, which could also lead to the development of risk reports for
individual flavors, providing an informative public health policy resource.
Considering the popularity of flavored vapes among
non-smoking teenagers and young adults, understanding the long-term effects of
these products on public health, morbidity, and mortality is crucial. This
study demonstrates that without comprehensive regulation, as we try to treat
the nicotine addictions of older tobacco smokers, there is a substantial risk
of transferring new health issues to younger generations.
Reference: “Forecasting vaping health risks through
neural network model prediction of flavor pyrolysis reactions” by Akihiro
Kishimoto, Dan Wu and Donal F. O’Shea, 8 May 2024, Scientific Reports.
DOI:
10.1038/s41598-024-59619-x
The research was carried out in conjunction with IBM
Research – Tokyo and was supported by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the
Irish Research Council through the SFI-IRC Pathway Programme for Dr. Dan Wu.
