It is not new that electronic cigarettes can cause more harm to the user than traditional cigarettes. Now, a new study shows that so-called mint-flavored vaping causes even more lung damage.
According to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, in the United States, electronic cigarette liquids marketed with menthol result in more vapor and a greater amount of toxic microparticles, compared to those without the element.
The study was carried out using a robotic system that simulates the mechanics of human breathing and the performance of vaping. By being able to imitate the pattern of a healthy person and a sick person, as well as the precision of temperature, humidity, volume and duration during a puff, it is possible to predict how toxic it can be to the lung.
In practice, this technique measures the size and number of aerosol particles generated, depending on the compound of the liquid. The devices – also called “lung-on-chip” – are able to generate the data regarding the effects.
“Many people, especially young people, mistakenly assume that vaping is safe, but even nicotine-free vaping mixes contain many compounds that can potentially damage the lungs. Just because something is safe to consume as food doesn’t mean it’s safe to inhale.”
Kambez H. Benam
Senior study author and associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Benam and his team had previously conducted a study, which found that vitamin E acetate – present in e-cigarette liquids and which contains cannabinoids – creates microparticles that can go into the lung and become fixed in the narrow airways and airways. walls of the trachea and bronchi.
Because it appeals to a younger audience, the FDA has been pressuring manufacturers of regular cigarettes, cigars and hookah scents to abandon menthol in the US. However, the vape market is still expanding, with 2.5 million young users in 2022, and the flavor continues to be popular.
What is your assessment of the study that talks regarding the harm of mint-flavored electronic cigarettes? Tell us!
