Worrying news for e-cigarette users.
Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have found that certain flavourings used in e-cigarettes change important functions at a cellular level in your lungs.
The findings were presented at the 2015 American Thoracic Society International Conference, *deep breath*, and the researchers found that that cellular changes were actually flavour specific.
Speaking about the findings, lead author Temperance Rowell said: “The effects of the various chemical components of e-cigarette vapour on lung tissue are largely unknown.
“In our study using human lung epithelial cells, a number of cell viability and toxicity parameters pointed to 5 of 13 flavours tested showing overall adverse effects to cells in a dose-dependent manner.”
The study used lung cells (cultured human airway epithelial cells, to be exact) that were exposed to various doses of 13 different e-cigarette flavours for 30 minutes and then for 24 hours.
The 30-minute test found that the flavours Hot Cinnamon Candies, Banana Pudding, and Menthol Tobacco were toxic to the cells at high doses.
The same three flavours also decreased ‘cell proliferation and cell viability’ in high-doses over 24-hours. The flavours in question were Hot Cinnamon Candies, Banana Pudding (Southern Style), and Menthol Tobacco.
“Given the increasing popularity of flavoured e-cigarettes, a better understanding of their ingredients, the potential health risks of these ingredients, and the causes of these risks is urgently needed,” said Ms. Rowell.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
