Harvard study shows hazardous chemicals in e-cigarette vapors (Harvard School of Public Health)
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On December 8, 2015 a Harvard School of Public Health study was published in Environmental Health Perspectives journal that showed flavoring chemicals in e-cigarettes are hazardous. Chemicals include diacetyl, which has caused popcorn lung disease in popcorn factory workers (scientific name is bronchiolitis obliterans). (To GASP’s knowledge, this disease has no cure except for a lung transplant.)
51 types of flavored e-cigarettes sold by leading brands that appeal to youth were selected. The Air stream was captured and analyzed for three chemicals: diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione and acetoin. The findings were that at least one flavoring chemical was in 47 out of 51 flavors tested. 39 of the 51 flavors had levels of diacetyl that were detected above laboratory limit. 2,3-pentanedione and acetoin were detected in 23 and 46 of the 51 flavors respectively.
Due to the associations between diacetyl, bronchiolitis obliterans and other severe respiratory diseases observed in workers, urgent action is recommended to further evaluate this potentially widespread exposure via flavored e-cigarettes.