20. Heavy Metals and Vaping

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes have become an attractive alternative to traditional cigarettes. One reason for the popularity of these devices is the perception that they are healthier than smoking tobacco. Another reason for their rapid rise in popularity is the ability of the user to easily customize the smell, taste, and nicotine content of the liquid vaporized in the devices. However, these liquids contain a myriad of chemicals including metals. The long-term effects of inhaling such mixtures of vapor are not fully understood. In addition, the inhalation of numerous heavy metals can cause the lungs and various organs to experience inflammation, metal-related toxicity, increased risk of infections, and an unbalanced biochemical equilibrium. The purpose of this study was to measure the concentration of various metals in three commercially available e-cigarette liquids using total reflection X-ray fluorescence and determine the possible health effects from exposure to these liquids.