Research paperA pilot study on nicotine residues in houses of electronic cigarette users, tobacco smokers, and non-users of nicotine-containing products
Introduction
Tobacco cigarettes and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) vary in many ways. Tobacco cigarettes emit smoke which is created by the combustion of tobacco whereas electronic cigarettes emit a vapour that is produced when an atomizer heats up e-liquid which is a nicotine solution in propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin. Tobacco smoke contains numerous toxicants that are formed by combustion such as carbon monoxide and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Although some toxicants have been found in e-cigarette vapours, the levels are significantly lower than in tobacco smoke (Goniewicz et al., 2014). Studies have shown that e-cigarette users exhale some vapour which contain nicotine, but at the significantly lower levels than the amount of nicotine released from tobacco cigarette secondhand smoke (Czogala et al., 2014). Therefore the bystander would be exposed to low nicotine in the air, while exposure to many toxicants would be significantly reduced or eliminated when compared to tobacco smoke.
Thirdhand cigarette smoke (THS) is the residue of secondhand smoke that can persist in air, dust and on surfaces (Bahl et al., 2014, Bell, 2014). This phenomenon has been documented for years in regards to tobacco cigarettes and recently has been gaining attention (Barnoya and Navas-Acien, 2013, Matt et al., 2011a). This is not because it is a new concept, but it is due to that fact that it was only recently named and depicted as an expected extension of secondhand smoke (Bell, 2014). It has been shown that THS is a result of burning tobacco cigarettes; however there is currently no data on whether using e-cigarettes in indoor spaces (so called ‘vaping’) can cause significant thirdhand exposure to nicotine.
Studies have shown that nicotine emitted with secondhand tobacco smoke can stick to various surfaces (Bahl et al., 2014, Matt et al., 2004, Sleiman et al., 2010). This residual nicotine can then react with other airborne oxidizing chemicals to create carcinogens and mutagens. These are usually in the form of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) (Sleiman et al., 2010). Non-smoking residents and smokers are exposed to these chemicals in amounts 3–8 times higher when tobacco cigarette smoking occurs indoors compared to outdoors (Matt et al., 2004). One study found that cumulative TSNA exposure from THS is 16 times higher in toddlers and 56 times higher in adults than what would be inhaled by a non-smoker (Bahl et al., 2014). It was also reported that cumulative nicotine exposure from THS residue can be 6.8 times higher in toddlers and 24 times higher in adults (Matt et al., 2004).
We have previously shown that in controlled laboratory conditions vapours released directly from e-cigarette can be deposited on various surfaces and contribute to thirdhand exposure (Goniewicz & Lee, 2014). However, the exposure patterns and nicotine deposition in real-life situations (outside laboratory) may be affected by various environmental factors. For example, if inhaled nicotine is effectively absorbed from vapours in e-cigarette users’ lungs, the amount exhaled by users would be very low. The aim of this study was to verify whether nicotine from e-cigarettes can be deposited on surfaces in houses of e-cigarette users.
Section snippets
Settings
Subjects were recruited from a group of participants in a larger cross-sectional study aimed to measure biomarkers of exposure. Eligible participants had to live in the Buffalo city area and smoke or vape in their home regularly on a daily basis. It was also required that tobacco cigarettes had not been smoked in the homes of e-cigarette users for at least a year. Selected participants were asked for permission to collect wipe samples in their households. Total of 22 subjects agreed to provide
Results
We found that half of the e-cigarette users’ homes had measureable levels of nicotine on surfaces. Nicotine was found in all of the tobacco cigarette smokers’ homes. We also found that nicotine levels in e-cigarette users homes was significantly lower than that found in cigarette smokers homes (average concentration 7.7 ± 17.2 vs. 1303 ± 2676 μg/m2; p < 0.05).
Traces of nicotine were also detected in half of the homes of non-users of nicotine-containing products. There was no significant difference in
Discussion
We provided preliminary data on levels of nicotine deposited in houses of e-cigarette users. Nicotine was found in only half of the e-cigarette smoking homes. The levels of nicotine in e-cigarettes users’ homes were almost 200 times lower than the levels detected in tobacco smokers homes. These results indicate that using e-cigarettes indoors results in much lower exposure to nicotine residues on surfaces compared to smoking tobacco cigarettes.
Interestingly, nicotine was also found in half of
Funding
This study was supported by an award from the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation and by CI grant P30 CA016056.
Conflict of interest statement
MLG received a research grant from Pfizer, manufacturer of smoking cessation medication, outside scope of this work. DB reported no conflict of interest.
References (14)
- et al.
Thirdhand cigarette smoke: Factors affecting exposure and remediation
PLOS ONE
(2014) - et al.
Protecting the world from secondhand tobacco smoke exposure: Where do we stand and where do we go from here?
Nicotine Tobacco Research
(2013) Science, policy and the rise of ‘thirdhand smoke’ as a public health issue
Health, Risk & Society
(2014)- et al.
Secondhand exposure to vapors from electronic cigarettes
Nicotine and Tobacco Research
(2014) - et al.
Electronic cigarettes are a source of thirdhand exposure to nicotine
Nicotine and Tobacco Research
(2014) - et al.
Levels of selected carcinogens and toxicants in vapour from electronic cigarettes
Tobacco Control
(2014) - et al.
Nicotelline: A proposed biomarker and environmental tracer for particulate matter derived from tobacco smoke
Chemical Research in Toxicology
(2013)
Cited by (51)
Low levels of nicotine and cotinine but not benzo[a]pyrene induce human trophoblast cell proliferation
2024, Reproductive ToxicologyE-cigarette fluids and aerosol residues cause oxidative stress and an inflammatory response in human keratinocytes and 3D skin models
2021, Toxicology in VitroCitation Excerpt :The skin is usually the first point of contact and the main route of ECEAR exposure. ECEAR contains nicotine, flavor chemicals, solvents, nicotine alkaloids, and tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) (Son et al., 2020; Khachatoorian et al., 2018, 2019, 2020; Bush and Goniewicz, 2015; Goniewicz and Lee, 2015; Sempio et al., 2019). ECEAR chemicals increased in concentration in a vape shop over a month-long period of monitoring, and concentrations of nicotine reached 108 mg/m2 in heavily used areas (Khachatoorian et al., 2019).
Toxicology of flavoring- and cannabis-containing e-liquids used in electronic delivery systems
2021, Pharmacology and TherapeuticsCitation Excerpt :In a laboratory study, e-cigarette aerosol released into an experimental chamber resulted in nicotine levels up to 500 μg/m2 on surfaces (Goniewicz & Lee, 2015). One study reported the average nicotine concentration on surfaces in e-cigarette user homes was 7.7 μg/m2 (Bush & Goniewicz, 2015). Khachatoorian et al. measured settled residues on samplers placed on surfaces in a residential home and an e-cigarette retail store.
Environmental Impact: Influence of ENDPs on Indoor Air Quality
2021, Toxicological Evaluation of Electronic Nicotine Delivery ProductsAssociations of home and workplace vaping restrictions with e-cigarette use among U.S. adults
2020, Preventive Medicine