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The recent study found that the concentration of carcinogenic compounds in vapor from e-cigarettes is ten times lower than that of a traditional cigarette. They also found that some metals such as lead were of a lower concentration.
However, other metals can be found in higher concentrations in the wispy haze released by e-cigarettes. The concentration of nickel in e-vapor was nearly four times higher than cigarette smoke, with an emission rate of 130.5 nanograms per hour. Increased exposure to nickel has been shown to induce gastrointestinal distress and respiratory diseases among other ailments.
Two other metals were found to be unique to e-cigarette vapor chromium at 28.1 nanograms per hour and titanium at 50.16 nanograms per hour. Both were absent from cigarette smoke entirely and come with their own set of health concerns including bronchitis and pneumonia.
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The higher concentration of nickel, chromium and titanium in e-cigarette vapor comes from the heat applied to the metal casings of the cartridges used in the
device, said Saffari.
Vapor is less harmful, but the small amounts of metals that we found [are] still a concern. Its not healthy for e-cigarettes to be left unregulated.
One thing e-cigarette manufactures could do to address Saffaris results would be to change the materials they use in their casings, though he anticipates that more heat resistant materials would be an additional expense.
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