Electronic Cigarette (E-Cigarette) Using: Toxicological Aspects

INTRODUCTION Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), which can be as also called “personal vaporizer”, “vape pen”, “e-waterpipe”, or “e-cigarette”, have become increasingly popular in recent years (1). The supporters of ENDS argue that the users are exposed to lesser chemicals, and these systems help quit smoking, and thus, ENDSs are safer than cigarettes (2). E-cigarette is a product that looks like a cigarette, gives a cigarette-like feeling, but unlike cigarettes, it does not burn tobacco. E-cigarettes are devices that consist of a solution of nicotine and other flavors (such as chocolate, coffee, mint, or fruity tobacco varieties) in a liquid containing propylene glycol (PG) and/or vegetable glycerol and a battery is used to evaporate this liquid mixture. While smoking, an apparent vapor comes into view, but it is not like the usual cigarette smoke (3). Analyses made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have shown that e-cigarette contains carcinogens such as nitrosamines, diethylene glycol, and tobacco-specific compounds, such as anabasine, myosmine, and β-nicotin, which can be harmful to humans. In addition to the FDA report, some researchers have reported that e-cigarette smoke may contain metals such as mercury in addition to volatile compounds such as acetaldehyde. World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there is no scientific evidence confirming the effect and safety of e-cigarettes (4, 5). Despite the studies comparing the toxic compounds contained in the smoke of cigarette and e-cigarette (6, 7), the number of studies on e-cigarette and its effects on human health is rather limited, as it is new. In a study from Germany, due to the use of e-cigarette in closed-area emissions, volatile organic chemicals, such as 1,2-propanediol and nicotine, and fragrant substances were detected (8). The results of the study have shown that e-cigarette may contain the same toxic and carcinogenic compounds as the conventional cigarettes such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), diethylene glycol, and nitrosamines (Tables 1, 2).