Category: Research

Study: Fourth-Generation Atomizers Not Harmless

Credit: Gianluca Rasile / Dreamstime.com
Fourth-generation electronic cigarette pod atomizer are similar in design to those of previous generations and contain elements that may adversely affect health and accumulate in the environment, according to a new study by the University of California, Riverside.
According to the researchers, chronic exposure to the elements/metals in atomizers could adversely affect human health. Further, e-cigarette pod products, which eventually enter the environment, could contribute to chemical pollution in water and soil.
“The more these devices aesthetically evolve, the more the atomizer components and elemental composition stay the same,” said Esther Omaiye, a graduate student in Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology at UC Riverside and the first author of the research paper that appeared in PLOS ONE, in statement.
“While major components such as filaments, thick wires, filament-wire joints, air-tubes and wicks have been preserved across generations, we see newer components in fourth-generation pod products such as connector pins, connector-wire joints, ceramic wicks and chambers that house these wicks.”
The more these devices aesthetically evolve, the more the atomizer components and elemental composition stay the same.
Esther Omaiye, UC Riverside
“We set out to characterize the design features of pod-style atomizers and analyze the elemental composition of the atomizers,” said Prue Talbot, a professor of cell biology at UCR, who led the research team. “These elements may, upon heating, enter the aerosol and be inhaled by users.”
The external appearance, design, battery power, atomizers, and nicotine delivery of e-cigarettes have evolved over the last decade. Fourth-generation pods have low-powered batteries, an e-liquid reservoir and an atomizer/mouthpiece. According to the researchers, they contain high concentrations of nicotine and acid.
Scientists have only limited understanding of what exactly makes up pod atomizers, which are required components for aerosol production in e-cigarettes.
“Since elements in the atomizers can leach into the e-fluids or transfer to the aerosols when the e-fluids are heated, it is important to know what these elements are that users can get exposed to,” said Omaiye, who works in Talbot’s lab.
The researchers examined 11 fourth-generation pods from six brands/manufacturers. Of 23 elements they identified in the pod atomizers, 11—nickel, chromium, iron, gold, copper, zinc, tin, oxygen, silicon, carbon and sodium—were present in relatively high abundance. Some of these elements have been linked to human illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, immune system suppression, lung injury, cancer, renal damage, neurotoxicity and silicosis. Nickel, chromium, iron and gold were found to be the most abundant elements in fourth-generation atomizers.
“We now know what elements users may be inhaling by using fourth-generation products,” Omaiye said. “Our work reinforces the idea that e-cigarettes are not without harm. Our next line of research is evaluating fluids and aerosols generated from fourth-generation products to get a clearer picture of how their elements may be directly affecting e-cigarette users’ health.”
March 26, 2021
Study: Juul Helps Patients With Schizophrenia Quit Smoking
A new study from Italy has found that 40 percent of participating adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders stopped smoking traditional cigarettes after 12 weeks of using Juul products. These findings are significant because smoking prevalence among people with schizophrenia is at 60 to 90 percent.
“Smoking is the primary cause of the 15-25 years mortality gap between users of mental health services and the general population,” said Riccardo Polosa, one of the lead researchers. “This study demonstrates that switching to high-strength nicotine e-cigarettes is a feasible, highly effective smoking cessation method for smokers who have schizophrenia. And it improves their quality of life too!”
The study—conducted in collaboration with the University of Stirling, City University of New York and Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research—enrolled 40 adult smokers with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, as reported on filtermag.org.
Aged between 22 and 65, the participants all said at the outset that they did not intend to quit or reduce their smoking. They were each given a free starter kit—containing one Juul device with a 5 percent nicotine tobacco flavored pod and a charger. In addition, participants were asked to maintain a daily diary to record product use, number of tobacco cigarettes smoked and any adverse side effects.
Among the study’s key findings:
Researchers observed [either] an overall, sustained 50 percent reduction in smoking or complete smoking abstinence in 92.5 percent of participants at the end of 12 weeks.
Researchers observed an overall 75 percent reduction in median daily cigarette consumption, from 25 to six, by the end of the 12 weeks.
After six months, 35 percent of participants had completely stopped smoking conventional tobacco cigarettes, while continuing to use e-cigarettes.
After six months, 57.5 percent of participants reduced their cigarette usage by over 50 percent.
Participants’ mean blood pressure, heart rate and weight measurably decreased between the start of the study and the 12-week follow up.
Positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia were not significantly different after using e-cigarettes throughout the duration of the study.
At the end of the study 61.9 percent of participants reported feeling more awake, less irritable, and experiencing greater concentration and reduced hunger.
These findings are remarkable and should give hope to the international mental health community that has essentially given up on helping smokers with schizophrenia.
The power of vaping is that the enjoyable and comforting rituals remain, while the dangers of combustion are eliminated.
March 23, 2021
Study: THC Vapes More Risky Than Nicotine Vapes
A new study shows that teens who vape pot are more likely to wheeze and cough than those who smoke cigarettes or vape nicotine. Appearing in the March 3 Journal of Adolescent Health, the study found that U.S. youth aged 12 to 17 show they have a higher risk of wheezing, suffering from a dry cough and having their sleep, speech or exercise impeded by wheezing if they vape marijuana products.
Credit: Clear Cannabis
The results are from the U.S. federally funded Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. It states that all symptoms are strongly related to lung injury, and it’s unclear how long they will last, said lead researcher Carol Boyd, co-director of the University of Michigan’s Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health.
“We found, and it was something that surprised us a bit, that it was the lifetime vaping cannabis that was associated with a far greater number of symptoms and a higher likelihood of having each of these symptoms than using either e-cigarettes or cigarettes,” Boyd said. “Lifetime” referred to any past use.
Survey responses from nearly 15,000 teens showed that vaping pot increased their risk of wheezing or whistling in the chest by 81 percent compared with a 15 percent increased risk from cigarettes and a 9 percent increased risk from nicotine e-cigarettes.
Vaping pot also increased teens’ risk of:

Sleep disturbed by wheezing by 71 percent;

Speech limited due to wheezing by 96 percent;

Wheezing during or after exercise by 33 percent; and

Dry coughing at night by 26 percent.
Smoking and nicotine e-cigarette use also increased risks for these indications of lung injury, just not by as much, Boyd said, according to an article on usnews.com.
“I think that industry would probably like to show that vaping e-cigarettes is healthier, that it’s the cannabis vaping causing these respiratory symptoms not the e-cigarettes. This is not true. E-cigarette vaping also causes symptoms among youth,” Boyd said. “However, in our study, and when we took into account their e-cigarette use, we found higher odds of having these respiratory symptoms among youth who had vaped cannabis.”
The survey was taken between December 2016 and January 2018—prior to the wave of lung injuries among young people that occurred in 2019. It was given the name EVALI, or e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury.
Boyd thinks some of these lung problems reported in the survey were probably due to EVALI, which has been linked to pot-laced e-liquids and particularly those containing vitamin E acetate. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), four out of five patients with EVALI had vaped cannabis versus only about 16 percent who said they only vaped nicotine.
The CDC has stated that vitamin E acetate was found in the lung fluid of all patients with EVALI.
March 4, 2021
Surprise: Study Finds Vapers Vape in No Smoking Zones
A recent survey from South Korea found that 8 in 10 South Korean e-cigarette users said they had secretly smoked stealthily in non-smoking areas. At 83.5 percent, the vast majority of e-cigarette users said they had vaped illegally, dwarfing the 16.5 percent who said they did not participate in such activity.
Credit Sungho Song
Under the National Health Promotion Act, those who use e-cigarettes in non-smoking areas can be fined, just like for smoking conventional tobacco cigarettes.Heat-not-burn products were not mentioned in the study and would face similar fines, according to a story by The Korea Bizwire.
A research team from the Asan Medical Center conducted a survey of 7,000 men and women between 20 and 69 years of age. Of the total, the number of people who had used e-cigarettes in the previous month stood at 394. Among vapers, 44.6 percent between 20 and 34 years old, while men accounted for 74.1 percent of the total.
Most participants said the smoked at home indoors, which accounted for the largest share at 46.9 percent, followed by private cars at 36.9 percent and outdoor non-smoking areas at 28.3 percent. Men and women accounted for 44 percent and 55.6 percent of the violators, respectively, indicating that more than half of female vapers users are vaping secretly at homes.
February 2, 2021
Report: Global E-Liquid Market to Reach $3.3 Billion by 2027
The global e-liquid market is growing quickly. New data suggests that the market could reach $3.3 billion by 2027. According to a new study by Grand View Research, the market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 13.4 percent from 2021 to 2027.
Credit: Vaporesso
“The advent of e-cigarette products such as squonk mods and pod systems has increased its popularity and adoption in recent years. The rising demand for these products globally is expected to drive the market over the forecast period,” a press release states. “In addition, the general presumption that these products can reduce the risk of lung disorders is fueling the market. Moreover, the absence of the tobacco burning process that is often found in conventional smoking products is expected to drive the market in the near future.”
In terms of flavor, the menthol segment is anticipated to register the highest growth rate over the forecast period owing to increasing adoption among young people, especially in students, coupled with its availability at affordable prices, according to the report.
“In terms of type, the bottled segment is expected to register growth at a significant pace from 2021 to 2027. This can be attributed to the fact that bottles allow users to make their own e-juice by adding two or more e-liquids,” the report states. “In terms of distribution channel, the online segment is anticipated to register a significant growth rate over the forecast period as it provides customers with a wide variety of e-liquids.”
Regionally, Europe is anticipated to register notable market growth from 2021 to 2027. This can be attributed to rising awareness among individuals about the tobacco-free formulation of e-liquids, according to the report.
“Market players are focusing on mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships in order to expand their distribution networks and build an international presence for their brands,” the reportstates. “For instance, in January 2018, Nicopure, a manufacturer of e-cigarette and e-liquid, announced a partnership with Vapоr Ltd., a distributor of e-cigarette and e-liquid in Bulgaria. Nicopure appointed Vapоr Ltd. as one of its distributors in Bulgaria. The partnership allowed the former to expand its brand presence in Bulgaria.”
Key players are increasingly investing in the marketing and distribution of their products owing to rising competition in the market. For instance, in July 2019, Turning Point Brands, Inc., a manufacturer, and distributor of consumer products, invested $3.0 million in the Canadian distribution firm ReCreation Marketing. Through the ReCreation Marketing platform, the company launched RipTide, an e-liquid vape technology, and a variety of Nu-X products in Canada.
January 25, 2021
College Students Studying Effects of Vaping in Vehicles
A group at East Carolina University is trying to fill in the gaps is trying to fill in some gaps in e-cigarette research.
Credit: Cape Cod Health
The researchers are taking a close look at what happens when people vape inside of their vehicles. Researchers say e-cigarette users told them they like vaping instead of smoking actual cigarettes because it doesn’t make their vehicle smell, according to WNCT.com.
E-cigarette users also don’t worry as much about the effects of second-hand smoke on others in their vehicles. The group is testing that theory with the help of a three-year grant from the National Institute of Health.
“People are now making a choice to vape inside of vehicles, to vape inside their homes and vape around children, so this is something we need to understand more about,” said Dr. Eric K. Soule with the ECU Department of Health Education.
Professors believe the project is a great opportunity for ECU undergraduates to get real-world research experience.
January 25, 2021
Vaping Reduces Biomarkers, Compared To Smoking
A new study suggests that vaping reduces inflammatory biomarkers when to compared to someone who smokes combustible cigarettes. “While vaping inflammatory biomarkers were elevated compared to nonusers, those differences were not statistically significant,” the study’s authors state.
“There was also no significant difference in the elevation of biomarkers between the exclusive smokers and dual smokers – the additive effect of e-cigarettes was low if present at all.”
The research, reported in the journal Circulation, used the U.S. For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) that has been released yearly since 2013.
The dataset is from this first cycle using data of participants’ smoking habits along with blood samples. The researchers looked specifically at metabolites, biomarkers, of inflammation and oxidative stress – the culprits felt to underlie tobacco’s harmful effects. In addition to the usual demographic data, there was specific information on the use or nonuse of tobacco, vaping, and cigarette smoking.
Results reflect findings for adults age 18 or older, where data on biomarkers and tobacco use were available, which was 7130 participants. This included 58.6 percent neither smoked nor used e-cigarettes (nonusers); 29.6 percent smoked exclusively; 1.9 percent vaped exclusively
and 9.9 percent smoked and vaped (dual users).
“Exclusive and dual smokers had the highest inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers relative to nonusers,” the researchers note. “Exclusive vapers had ‘significantly lower levels’ except for C-reactive protein (than smokers).”
The research concluded that e-cigarettes appear to have little impact on inflammatory biomarkers, certainly not as great as smoking tobacco. This research “highlight(s) the importance of completely replacing cigarette smoking with e-cigarettes or quitting the use of both products for cigarette smokers to derive potential health benefits,” the report states.
January 18, 2021
Study Claims Non-Nicotine Vaping Disrupts Gut
A recent study claims that the chemicals found in vapor products without nicotine disrupt the gut barrier and trigger inflammation in the body, potentially leading to a variety of seperate health concerns.
Credit: Priscilla du Preez

In the study, published in the journal iScience, lead authors Soumita Das, associate professor of pathology, and Pradipta Ghosh, professor of cellular and molecular medicine at University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center at UCSD School of Medicine, found that chronic use of nicotine-free e-cigarettes led to a “leaky gut,” in which microbes and other molecules seep out of the intestines, resulting in chronic inflammation.
Such inflammation can contribute to a variety of diseases and conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, dementia, certain cancers, atherosclerosis, liver fibrosis, diabetes, and arthritis, according to a press release.
“The gut lining is an amazing entity. It is comprised of a single layer of cells that are meant to seal the body from the trillions of microbes, defend our immune system, and at the same time allow absorption of essential nutrients,” said Ghosh. “Anything we eat or drink, our lifestyle choices in other words, has the ability to impact our gut microbes, the gut barrier and overall health. Now we know that what we smoke, such as e-cigarettes, negatively impacts it as well.”
The researchers say that two chemicals used as a base for all most e-liquids — propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin — were the cause of inflammation. Both chemicals are used in many food products that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated are safe for human consumption.
“Numerous chemicals are created when these two are heated to generate the fumes in vaping that cause the most damage, for which there are no current regulations,” said Ghosh. “The safety of e-cigarettes have been debated fiercely on both sides. Nicotine content, and its addictive nature, has always been the major focus of those who argue against its safety, whereas lack of chemicals in the carcinogens that are present in the cigarette smoke has been touted by the makers of e-cigarettes when marketing these products as a ‘healthy alternative.’ In reality, it’s the chemicals making up the vapor-liquid that we should be more concerned about as they are the cause of gut inflammation.”
January 11, 2021
Study Claims Vaping Could Cloud Thinking

Photo: Kevinsphotos from Pixabay
Vaping can have a negative effect on memory, thinking skills and the ability to focus, particularly for young people, according to a recent study by researchers at the University of Rochester (New York) Medical Center.
“Our studies add to growing evidence that vaping should not be considered a safe alternative to tobacco smoking,” said Head researcher Dongmei Li.
The study is based on data analyzed from the over 886,000 participants involved in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey and the more than 18,000 responses from the National Youth Tobacco Survey.
The researchers concluded that those who vaped or smoked cigarettes were more likely to struggle with cognitive function than those who had never smoked in any capacity. Also, the researchers noted that age played a large role in the participants’ cognitive abilities as they found that when participants were younger than 14 when they started vaping or smoking, they were even more likely to have cognitive struggles as adults.
“With the recent rise in teen vaping, this is very concerning and suggests that we need to intervene even earlier. Prevention programs that start in middle or high school might actually be too late,” Li added.
January 2, 2021
Studies Show Vaping Reduces Smoking Related Illnesses
By Tim Sandle
Three recent studies demonstrate the potential for improved health effects that can come from the use of e-cigarettes, when such vaping products are used on a permanent basis and the use of all tobacco products is halted.
Credit: TTI
The arguments used to promote the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and other vaping products is with a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer, and as a strategy to decrease the addiction to conventional cigarettes.
Other smoking related diseases include risk of lung disease, including lung cancer and emphysema. The research areas that support this have been provided by trade site Vapor Solo. In relation to the research, a review commissioned by Public Health England concluded that e-cigarettes were 95 percent less harmful than tobacco.
The first set of research is from the University of Dundee, U.K., drawing on an extensive clinical trial into the cardiovascular effect
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
The second area of research relates to a trial that found that patients (114 in total) who switched from smoking to vaping experience a 1.5 percentage point improvement with their blood vessel function, as demonstrated across a four week period. This improvement was as measured against conventional cigarette users. Heart health was assessed using a Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) test, to assess how far a blood vessel opens.
Further studies from the research team are underway to measure the effects over a longer time period across which the broader effects of cardiovascular health can be assessed, including the risk of heart attacks. The results are supported by a second study from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, U.S.
This research strand showed that heavy cigarette smokers with at least a 20 pack-year smoking history can reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease by 39 percent within five years if they switch to e-cigarettes or quit altogether. In a follow-up letter to The Lancet, the researchers “estimate that e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful to users than smoking. Or, as we prefer, smoking is estimated to be twenty times more harmful to users than vaping e-cigarettes.”
CANCER DEVELOPMENT
A similar investigation, this time into the risk of developing cancers, was conducted between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, U.S., and the University College London., U.K. This study was slightly larger, taking in 181 smokers in order to assess the long-term effects of vaping.
The smoker group included users of electronic cigarettes and conventional tobacco products. To determine the health variance, those involved in the study volunteered to provide saliva, breath, and urine samples. Qualitative questionnaires were also completed.
The data indicated that levels of carcinogens (including tobacco specific nitrosamines, which are one of the most important carcinogens in tobacco formed from nicotine) taken from former smokers who had switched to e-cigarettes were significantly lower compared with regular users of smoking tobacco products.
People who used both types of products, so-termed ‘combination smokers’ did not experience any significant health improvements. The third study was published in the peer-reviewed journal: Annals of Internal Medicine, titled “Nicotine, Carcinogen, and Toxin Exposure in Long-Term E-Cigarette and Nicotine Replacement Therapy Users: A Cross-sectional Study.”
This article first appeared on Newshour.com.
December 18, 2020