CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Passive exposure to e-cigarette emissions: Sensory irritation, timing and association with VOCs
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George D. Behrakis Research Lab- Hellenic Cancer Society, Athens, Greece
Publication date: 2019-03-26
Tob. Prev. Cessation 2019;5(Supplement):A60
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ABSTRACT
In the frame of the TackSHS Project, we examined irritation symptoms reported by the participants passively exposed to e-cigarette emissions during 30 minutes, their timing and their association with the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced. 40 young healthy non-smokers were exposed to e-cigarette emissions produced by a human smoker using a standardized topography and two resistance settings (exposure 0.5 Ohm and 1.5 Ohm) in a 35m3 room for 30 minutes, in addition to a control exposure session with no emissions. PM1.0 and PM2.5 were continuously measured over the duration of exposure, while VOCs were recorded at 0, 15 and 30 minutes (t0, t15 and t30). Each participant completed an irritation questionnaire at t0, t15, t30 and t60 (30 minutes post-exposure). The questionnaire included questions on ocular, nasal, throat and respiratory irritation symptoms and on general complaints. Within this study, we found that a 30 minute exposure to emissions of e-cigarettes increased concentrations of PMs and VOC’s and provoked sensory irritation symptoms and general complaints that were positively associated with the concentrations of the VOC mixture emitted.