Prioritizing substances, a necessary first step in risk assessment
In 2019, 4.4% of the French population declared vaping daily according to Public health France. In order to assess the health risks that the use of electronic cigarettes might represent, it is essential to identify the substances entering into their composition and those that can be inhaled by vaping. ANSES has thus drawn up a list of 1,775 substances, including 106 she judges priority because of their danger: carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic for reproduction… These are, for example, formaldehyde, acrolein or even lead.
To develop this priority list, the Agency relied on declarations from manufacturers of vaping products as well as on scientific literature.
The estimate of actual exposure levels vapers is the next step in the risk assessment. Also, a measurement campaign to find out the concentration levels of these priority substances in emissions will be initiated by the Agency. At the end of this work, ANSES will produce an assessment of the health risks associated with the substances of greatest concern.
Extend the regulations to e-liquids without nicotine and “homemade”
ANSES notes that vaping liquids without nicotine and especially the ingredients of “homemade” products, such as concentrated aromas with multiple flavors, are widely used by vapers. According to the survey (PDF) carried out in 2020 by BVA for the Agency, 33% of vapers would indeed have recourse very regularly or exclusively to this practice known as ” Do it yourself » (DIY). However, neither the protective provisions for health such as the prohibitions of certain ingredients, nor the reporting obligations to which manufacturers of vaping products are subject relate to DIY or nicotine-free products.
In order to identify all the substances to which vapers are exposed, the European regulationsincluding the declarative obligations arising therefrom, should be extended to all vaping products placed on the marketwhether they contain nicotine or not, whether they are sold ready to vape or made by users themselves.
