Passive exposure of non-smokers to E-Cigarette aerosols: Sensory irritation, timing and association with volatile organic compounds

Citation

Tzortzi A, Teloniatis S, Matiampa G, Bakelas G, Tzavara C, Vyzikidou VK, Vardavas C, Behrakis P, Fernandez E, Semple S, O'Donnell R & Dobson R (2020) Passive exposure of non-smokers to E-Cigarette aerosols: Sensory irritation, timing and association with volatile organic compounds. Environmental Research, 182, Art. No.: 108963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108963

Abstract
Aim The current study examined symptoms of irritation reported by non-smokers passively exposed to e-cigarette aerosols and their timing and association with the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced. Methods 40 healthy non-smoking adults were exposed to e-cigarette aerosols for 30 min in a 35 m3 room. Second-hand e-cigarette aerosol (SHA) was produced by an experienced e-cigarette user using a standardized topography and two resistance settings (exposure 0.5 Ohm and 1.5 Ohm), in addition to a control session (no emissions). PM2.5 and PM1.0 were continuously measured over the duration of exposure, while Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) were recorded at 0, 15 and 30 min (t0, t15 and t30) of exposure. Each participant completed an irritation questionnaire at t0, t15, t30 of exposure and t60 (30 min post-exposure) on ocular, nasal, throat-respiratory symptoms of irritation and general complaints. Kruskal-Wallis H test for PM comparisons, repeated measures ANOVA for VOCs and Generalized Estimating Equations for symptoms of irritation and association with VOCs were used for statistical analysis. Results 20 males and 20 females, with a mean age of 24.6 years (SD = 4.3) and exhaled CO 

Keywords
Volatile organic compounds; Ultrafine particulates; Sensory irritatione-cigarettes; Second-hand aerosol

Notes
TackSHS Project Investigators: Esteve Fernández, Yolanda Castellano, Marcela Fu, Beladenta Amalia, Olena Tigova, Maria José López, Xavier Continente, Teresa Arechavala, Silvano Gallus, Alessandra Lugo, Xiaoqiu Liu, Cristina Bosetti, Enrico Davoli, Istituto Doxa, Paolo Colombo, Sean Semple, Rachel O'Donnell, Ruaraidh Dobson, Luke Clancy, Sheila Keogan, Shashsa Li, Elizabeth Breslin, Panagiotis Behrakis, Anna Tzortzi, Constantine Vardavas, Vergina Konstantina Vyzikidou, Stephanie Teloniatis, Gerasimos Bakelas, George Matiampa, Giuseppe Gorini, Giulia Carreras, Barbara Cortini, Elisabetta Chellini, Roberto Boffi, Ario Ruprecht, Cinzia De Marco, Alessandro Borgini, Chiara Veronese, Martina Bertoldi, Andrea Tittarelli, Ángel López Nicolás, Marta Trapero-Bertran, Daniel Celdrán Guerrero, Cornel Radu-Loghin, Dominick Nguyen, Polina Starchenko, Joan B Soriano, Julio Ancochea, Tamara Alonso, María Teresa Pastor, Marta Erro, Ana Roca

Journal
Environmental Research: Volume 182

People

Dr Rachel O'Donnell

Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Social Marketing

Professor Sean Semple

Professor, Institute for Social Marketing