Study Reveals That e-Cigarettes Present Increased Toxin Levels When Compared To Traditional Tobacco Smoke, Parker Waichman LLP Notes
Port Washington, New York (PRWEB) May 21, 2014 -- Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm long dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured by defective and dangerous products, notes that a new study, conducted by the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, reveals that e-cigarettes may expose users to increased levels, even higher than traditional tobacco, of very dangerous toxins, according to a Buffalo News report dated May 19, 2014.
The study appears in the peer-reviewed journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research’s May 2014 issue, and revealed that, while e-cigarettes that are operated at lower voltage levels generate trace levels of some toxins, when the voltage is increased the levels of those toxins were increased significantly.
Maciej Goniewicz, a researcher in the Department of Health Behavior said, “These results suggest that some types of electronic cigarettes might expose their users to the same or even higher levels of carcinogenic formaldehyde than tobacco smoke. Users of high-voltage e-cigarettes need to be warned about this increased risk of harmful effects,” according to the Buffalo News report.
Some e-cigarette devices are constructed with various elements, including the ability to change the device’s voltage level so that the user is able to choose to increase or decrease vapor production and nicotine delivery. The research reviewed the chemicals present in these e-cigarette vapors when different voltages are used. When operated at the increased voltages, the e-cigarette’s vapors included significant and dangerous levels of the carcinogenic chemical, formaldehyde; the potential carcinogen, acetaldehyde; and the nasal and lung tissue irritants, acrolein and acetone, according to the Buffalo News.
The research endeavored to understand which e-cigarette product elements, including nicotine solvent and battery output voltage impacted the carbonyl levels in the product’s vapors, and the effects of these on health. The research revealed that the most commonly used e-cigarette nicotine solvents are glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG). When exposed to high temperatures, both VG and PG decompose, which creates lowered molecular carbonyl compounds, including carcinogens and potential carcinogens, according to Nicotine and Tobacco Research. The researchers concluded that the vapors released by e-cigarettes contain toxic and carcinogenic carbonyl compounds; that solvent and battery output voltage significantly affects carbonyl compounds levels in the vapors; and that high-voltage e-cigarettes may expose users to high carbonyl compound levels.
Goniewicz recommended more research to specifically study other e-cigarette product characteristics that may also impact the toxicity of e-cigarettes, such as heating elements, flavorings, and additives, the Buffalo News report indicated.
“The use of e-cigarettes is continuing to increase and, with advertising touting the devices as safe and as a safe alternative to traditional smoking, these devices are often used in public areas, exposing non-smokers to what may be dangerous vapors,” said Gary Falkowitz, Managing Attorney at Parker Waichman LLP. “More and more research is pointing to the hazards associated with those who use e-cigarettes as well as those who are exposed to e-cigarettes.”
Parker Waichman LLP continues to offer free lawsuit consultations to victims of e-cigarette injuries. If you or a loved one experienced complications or injuries following use of or exposure to e-cigarette vapors or other ingredients, please visit the firm's e-cigarette page. Free case evaluations are also available by calling 1-800-LAW-INFO.
Gary Falkowitz, Parker Waichman LLP, http://yourlawyer.com, +1 (800) 529-4636, [email protected]
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