Metal and silicate particles including nanoparticles are present in electronic cigarette cartomizer fluid and aerosol.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Electronic cigarettes (EC) deliver aerosol by heating fluid containing nicotine. Cartomizer EC combine the fluid chamber and heating element in a single unit. Because EC do not burn tobacco, they may be safer than conventional cigarettes. Their use is rapidly increasing worldwide with little prior testing of their aerosol.

Objectives

We tested the hypothesis that EC aerosol contains metals derived from various components in EC.

Methods

Cartomizer contents and aerosols were analyzed using light and electron microscopy, cytotoxicity testing, x-ray microanalysis, particle counting, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

Results

The filament, a nickel-chromium wire, was coupled to a thicker copper wire coated with silver. The silve

SUBMITTER: Williams M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3603976 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature