title: Analysis of symptoms and their potential associations with e-liquids' components: a social media study.
abstract: The electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) market has grown rapidly in recent years. However, causes of e-cigarette related symptoms among users and their impact on health remain uncertain. This research aims to mine the potential relationships between symptoms and e-liquid components, such as propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), flavor extracts, and nicotine, using user-generated data collected from Reddit.
  
  
  
  A total of 3605 e-liquid related posts from January 1st, 2011 to June 30th, 2015 were collected from Reddit. Then the patterns of VG/PG distribution among different flavors were analyzed. Next, the relationship between throat hit, which was a typical symptom of e-cigarette use, and e-liquid components was studied. Finally, other symptoms were examined based on e-liquid components and user sentiment.
  
  
  
  We discovered 3 main sets of findings: 1) We identified three groups of flavors in terms of VG/PG ratios. Fruits, cream, and nuts flavors were similar. Sweet, menthol, and seasonings flavors were classified into one group. Tobacco and beverages flavors were the third group. 2) Throat hit was analyzed and we found that menthol and tobacco flavors, as well as high ratios of PG and nicotine level, could produce more throat hit. 3) A total of 9 systems of 25 symptoms were identified and analyzed. Components including VG/PG ratio, flavor, and nicotine could be possible reasons for these symptoms.
  
  
  
  E-liquid components shown to be associated with e-cigarette use symptomology were VG/PG ratios, flavors, and nicotine levels. Future analysis could be conducted based on the structure of e-liquid components categories built in this study. Information revealed in this study could be utilized by e-cigarette users to understand the relationship between e-liquid type and symptoms experienced, by vendors to choose appropriate recipes of e-liquid, and by policy makers to develop new regulations.
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Management and Control for Complex Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Qiudan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Management Information Systems, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Yongcheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Management and Control for Complex Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA.
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Leischow
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Management and Control for Complex Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China. zeng@email.arizona.edu.|Department of Management Information Systems, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA. zeng@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel Dajun
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced*; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D061108:Social Media; D013649:Taste
chemical_list: D005421:Flavoring Agents; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Flavors; Nicotine; PG; Reddit; Social media; Symptoms; VG; e-cigarette; e-juice; e-liquid