Diskin, et al. conducted a study of the concentrations of the common breath metabolites ammonia, acetone, isoprene, ethanol and acetaldehyde in the breath of five subjects over a period of 30 days. Breath samples were taken and analysed in the early morning on arrival at the laboratory.
Time variation of ammonia, acetone, isoprene and ethanol in breath: a quantitative SIFT-MS study over 30 days | Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO) | US EPA
It is enlightening to compare their results for the
three compounds that correspond to three of the six e-cigarette exhaled vapor compounds in the
Indoor Air study
.
The Indoor Air study measured a concentration of 25 mcg/m3 of Acetone, which converts to 10.39 PPB. In Diskins study, Acetone ranged from 293-870 PPB.
The Indoor Air study found 10 mcg/m3 of Isoprene, which converts to 3.54 PPB. Compare to 55-171 PPB in Diskins study.
The Indoor Air study found 3 mcg/m3 of Acetaldehyde, which converts to 1.64 PPB, compared with 2-5 PPB in Diskins study.
Therefore for these three compounds, bystanders would be in greater danger if exposed to exhaled breath of ordinary non-smoking, non-vaping citizens.
Three additional compounds were noted in the Indoor Air study. The quantities were reported as micrograms per cubic meter by the German researchers. OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) are expressed as milligrams per cubic meter. To convert to mg/m3, divide the mcg value by 1000.
2-Butanone (MEK) = 0.002 mg/m3 (OSHA PEL = 590 mg/m3)
Acetic acid = 0.014 mg/m3 (OSHA PEL = 25 mg/m3)
Formaldehyde = 0.016 mg/m3 (OSHA PEL = 0.661 mg/m3)
When all the scientific data are considered, we must conclude that bystanders are in no danger whatsoever from exhaled vapor, as the highest concentration measured represents a mere 2.4% of the OSHA PEL, and the remaining 5 compounds represent a fraction of 1% of the OSHA PEL.
