New RCSI research has uncovered the potentially harmful substances that are produced when e-liquids in vaping devices are heated for inhalation.
The study, published in Opens in new windowScientific Reports, highlights the urgent need for public health policies concerning flavoured vapes.
The research team in RCSI’s Department of Chemistry used artificial intelligence (AI) to simulate the effects of heating e-liquid flavour chemicals found in nicotine vapes. They included all 180 known e-liquid flavour chemicals, predicting the new compounds formed when these substances are heated within a vaping device immediately prior to inhalation.
The analysis revealed the formation of many hazardous chemicals including 127 that are classified as ‘acute toxic’, 153 as ‘health hazards’ and 225 as ‘irritants’. Notably, these included a group of chemicals called volatile carbonyls (VCs), which are known to pose health risks. Sources for VCs were predicted to be the most popular fruit, candy and dessert-flavoured products.
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Photo by Renz Macorol: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-black-vape-3545426/
