E-cigarettes produce far fewer harmful substances than cigarettes. But those that are produced are influenced by factors such as power, flavorings and the design of the burner.
This is the result of a new US study.
The vapor from an e-cigarette contains between 125 and 10 000 times lower concentrations of carcinogenic aldehydes, compared to the smoke from a cigarette. This is according to researchers from Rutgers University in the US, in a study of various health risks of electronic cigarettes. At the same time, the concentration is highly dependent on how the coil handles e-juice and heat.
E-cigarettes under real-life conditions
The research is based on previous studies, supplemented by 23 test participants who were allowed to use two different e-cigarettes, with different flavors and effects, but with the same coil (0.8 ohm bottom-fed vaporizer between 6 and 30 watts).
"The tests were conducted in the same way as e-cigarettes are used in everyday life, with different puffing patterns and time intervals. Several previous studies have not taken sufficient account of real-life conditions, and this is important for understanding the real risks," the researchers write.
Avoiding burning the wicks
Previous tests have shown that the coil is capable of transporting e-liquid, plays a major role in the formation of aldehydes. An older type of coil, small top-fed vaporizers where the wick material sucks up e-juice from below, does not transport the e-juice fast enough, the researchers note. When the liquid evaporates quickly, at higher powers, the risk of the material drying out and starting to glow increases. A so-called "dry hit" occurs. Something that most vejpers note by a strong burnt taste and pain in the throat. In such cases, the amount of aldehydes increases significantly.
But this does not reflect "normal" conditions, the researchers say, as users do not usually use a coil that tastes burnt.
Modern coils are safer
In their tests they used instead more modern burners, where the growth takes place from the bottom of the coil. These proved to handle the heat much better. No matter what temperature the researchers exposed the coils to, they consistently produced significantly fewer aldehydes than can be measured in cigarette smoke.
"At the same time, the results show that the concentration of aldehydes increases with power, although they remain well below the concentration in cigarette smoke," the researchers write.
Different tastes affect risks
At the same time, the researchers compared different flavors in the e-juice. All the flavors tested came from the essence company The Perfumer's Apprentice (TPA). It was found that flavors such as strawberry (strawberry) and dragon fruit (dragonfruit) tended to form more formaldehyde than creamy flavors (like Bavarian cream and sweet cream). Menthol was in the middle along with gum and cinnamon.
No risk of popcorn lung
The researchers also measured the amount diacetyl (a butter flavor) in the different flavorings, in particular Bavarian cream and sweet cream. Diacetyl has been topical in the debate on e-cigarettes. The substance has properties that can cause so-called "popcorn lung". However, the disease, which is similar to COPD, has never been found in either vejp users or smokers. This is despite the fact that cigarette smoke contains a very high concentration of the substance diacetyl.
"Although several e-juice manufacturers have replaced the diacetyl with other butter flavors, these can also form diacetyl when heated," the researchers write.
But even here, they only found smaller concentrations, well below the levels associated with absolute health risks.
PG worse than VG
Finally, the researchers measured the difference between propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, which makes up 99% of e-juice. Glycerine starts to degrade and form aldehydes at 200 degrees. Propylene glycol, on the other hand, starts reacting at 127 degrees, which affects the risk of higher concentrations of aldehydes earlier.
"High PG e-juices can produce up to 200 times more aldehydes than higher VG juices. This was constant regardless of the effect," the researchers write.
Want to regulate power and content
According to the researchers, regulators should look more at studies looking at e-cigarettes under real conditions. And that governments should focus on the efficacy of some devices, but also the PG content of some e-juices. At the same time, they note that e-cigarettes have a major impact on the health of smokers. They have a clear harm reduction effect.
"At the same time, 1TP8 users should be aware that the harm reduction effect varies depending on how they use the products, the type of coil they use and what is in the e-juice. Some substances may have effects even at low levels," the researchers write.
"Ignorance of legislators"
Niklas Linder, Chairman of the Swedish Electronic Cigarette Industry Association, BELC welcomes the message.
"It is positive news that all types of modern e-cigarettes are significantly healthier than traditional tobacco smoking. That said, there are different levels of risk even within the e-cigarette range. But research shows that the absolute best thing for nicotine users who use e-cigarettes is to have a modern e-cigarette that focuses on more nicotine in the liquid and less power in the device," says Niklas Linder.
It's a message he hopes will influence politicians who legislate on e-cigarettes in the future.
"Unfortunately, we see a lot of ignorance from legislators; today, the state penalizes nicotine, which is probably the most studied and proven least dangerous component of the equation. We also have severe restrictions on nicotine content, 20mg/ml. This makes products that can provide users with enough nicotine at lower effects less attractive. To ensure users get a reasonable dose of nicotine, we instead use more powerful devices, which deliver much more vapor, thus increasing health risks. Niklas Linder, BELC.
