2016/09/16 by Ki‐Hyun Kim, Ehsanul Kabir, Shamin Ara Jahan · 21 citations
Medicine · Health Professions · Environmental Science · Chemistry · Engineering · #Smoking Behavior and Cessation #Noise Effects and Management #Air Quality and Health Impacts #Nicotine #SAFER #Electronic cigarette #Hazardous waste #Smoke #Environmental health #Human health #tar (computing) #Cigarette smoke #Health benefits #Toxicology #Medicine #Chemistry #Waste management #Traditional medicine #Engineering #Biology #Computer science #Organic chemistry #Computer security
paper · doi:10.1080/10590501.2016.1236604
published in Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part C 34(4), 262-275 (Taylor & Francis)
openalex publication_date 2016/09/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Electronic cigarettes (ECs) are devised to deliver nicotine in a vapor rather than in smoke without tar. ECs are hence advertised as being safer than tobacco cigarette products as the chemical compounds inhaled in the former are believed to be fewer and less toxic than those of the latter. Hazardous chemicals (e.g., formaldehyde) are nonetheless found to be generated incidentally by contacting the heated wire (i.e., the oxidation of glycerol/glycol in e-liquid). Although the extent of their release varies by several variables (e.g., the type of e-liquid, puffing rate, and the battery voltage), their exposure may also contribute to negative health effects. As the use of ECs may be much safer than that of common tobacco products, the former can be used as an aid to cut down or quit the latter. However, relatively little is yet known about the health effects of the EC on a long-term basis. Moreover, the use of EC cannot be clearly substantiated for renormalizing smoking behavior by current evidence. Behavior studies of the EC consumer suggest that the sufficient data for aerosol generation and chemical analysis should be acquired to establish reliable guides for its composition and consumption. In light of the urgent demand for such guidelines, this review examines the basic aspects of EC-related pollutants and their health effects.