title: Secondhand exposure to vapors from electronic cigarettes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are designed to generate inhalable nicotine aerosol (vapor). When an e-cigarette user takes a puff, the nicotine solution is heated and the vapor is taken into lungs. Although no sidestream vapor is generated between puffs, some of the mainstream vapor is exhaled by e-cigarette user. The aim of this study was to evaluate the secondhand exposure to nicotine and other tobacco-related toxicants from e-cigarettes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured selected airborne markers of secondhand exposure: nicotine, aerosol particles (PM(2.5)), carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in an exposure chamber. We generated e-cigarette vapor from 3 various brands of e-cigarette using a smoking machine and controlled exposure conditions. We also compared secondhand exposure with e-cigarette vapor and tobacco smoke generated by 5 dual users.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study showed that e-cigarettes are a source of secondhand exposure to nicotine but not to combustion toxicants. The air concentrations of nicotine emitted by various brands of e-cigarettes ranged from 0.82 to 6.23 µg/m(3). The average concentration of nicotine resulting from smoking tobacco cigarettes was 10 times higher than from e-cigarettes (31.60±6.91 vs. 3.32±2.49 µg/m(3), respectively; p = .0081).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using an e-cigarette in indoor environments may involuntarily expose nonusers to nicotine but not to toxic tobacco-specific combustion products. More research is needed to evaluate health consequences of secondhand exposure to nicotine, especially among vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, and people with cardiovascular conditions.
authors: Department of General and Analytical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Sosnowiec, Poland;
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Czogala
authors: Maciej L
authors: ML
authors: Goniewicz
authors: Bartlomiej
authors: B
authors: Fidelus
authors: Wioleta
authors: W
authors: Zielinska-Danch
authors: Mark J
authors: MJ
authors: Travers
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Sobczak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D012907:Smoking; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D009538:Nicotine; D002248:Carbon Monoxide