title: Levels of selected carcinogens and toxicants in vapour from electronic cigarettes.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, are devices designed to imitate regular cigarettes and deliver nicotine via inhalation without combusting tobacco. They are purported to deliver nicotine without other toxicants and to be a safer alternative to regular cigarettes. However, little toxicity testing has been performed to evaluate the chemical nature of vapour generated from e-cigarettes. The aim of this study was to screen e-cigarette vapours for content of four groups of potentially toxic and carcinogenic compounds: carbonyls, volatile organic compounds, nitrosamines and heavy metals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vapours were generated from 12 brands of e-cigarettes and the reference product, the medicinal nicotine inhaler, in controlled conditions using a modified smoking machine. The selected toxic compounds were extracted from vapours into a solid or liquid phase and analysed with chromatographic and spectroscopy methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the e-cigarette vapours contained some toxic substances. The levels of the toxicants were 9-450 times lower than in cigarette smoke and were, in many cases, comparable with trace amounts found in the reference product.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings are consistent with the idea that substituting tobacco cigarettes with e-cigarettes may substantially reduce exposure to selected tobacco-specific toxicants. E-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy among smokers unwilling to quit, warrants further study. (To view this abstract in Polish and German, please see the supplementary files online.).
authors: Department of Health Behavior, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, , Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors: Maciej Lukasz
authors: ML
authors: Goniewicz
authors: Jakub
authors: J
authors: Knysak
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Gawron
authors: Leon
authors: L
authors: Kosmider
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Sobczak
authors: Jolanta
authors: J
authors: Kurek
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Prokopowicz
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Jablonska-Czapla
authors: Czeslawa
authors: C
authors: Rosik-Dulewska
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Havel
authors: Peyton
authors: P
authors: Jacob
authors: Neal
authors: N
authors: Benowitz
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004581:Electronics; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000032:analysis; D009676:Noxae / Q000032:analysis*; D012907:Smoking; D062789:Tobacco Products; D014116:Toxicology; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D009602:Nitrosamines; D009676:Noxae; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Carcinogens; Electronic nicotine delivery devices; Harm Reduction; Toxicology