Exploring the Effects of E-Cigarettes using Drosophila Melanogaster

Abstract

Although the number of vaping-related deaths in the US is rising, the specific cause remains unidentified. Therefore, determining what long-term effects vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG), the main non-nicotine components in e-cigarettes, may have is crucial. Discovering that these components are harmful when tested on fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), a model organism, may suggest similar effects in humans. In this study, the number of offspring, changes in behavior, and phenotypic mutations in fruit flies were observed for the parent, F1, and F2 generations after the parent generation was exposed to one of four treatments of aerosolized solution. These included a 50% PG/50% VG, a 30% PG/70% VG, a 70% PG/30% VG, or no solution (control) using a nebulizer for 18 seconds each day, for two days. It was found that each experimental group had fewer offspring than the control. A two-sample T-test (α = 0.05) was used to find that the size of the flies in the F1 generation was statistically significantly smaller in ⅔ of the experimental groups when compared to the control. Furthermore, it was observed using a two-proportion Z-test (α = 0.05) that ⅔ of experimental groups in the parent generation, and all F1 experimental groups were statistically significantly more likely to develop at least one phenotypic mutation than the control. Additionally statistically significant changes were seen in activity patterns and reflex immediately after exposure. Overall, it is probable that exposure to aerosolized VG and PG is a major problem. Although the number of vaping-related deaths in the US is rising, the specific cause remains unidentified. Therefore, determining what long-term effects vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG), the main non-nicotine components in e-cigarettes, may have is crucial. Discovering that these components are harmful when tested on fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), a model organism, may suggest similar effects in humans. In this study, the number of offspring, changes in behavior, and phenotypic mutations in fruit flies were observed for the parent, F1, and F2 generations after the parent generation were exposed to one of four treatments of aerosolized solution. These included a 50% PG/50% VG, a 30% PG/70% VG, a 70% PG/30% VG, or no solution (control) using a nebulizer for 18 seconds each day, for two days. It was found that each experimental group had fewer offspring than the control. A two-sample T-test (α = 0.05) was used to find that the size of the flies in the F1 generation was statistically significantly smaller in ⅔ of the experimental groups when compared to the control. Furthermore, it was observed using a two-proportion Z-test (α = 0.05) that ⅔ of experimental groups in the parent generation, and all F1 experimental groups were statistically significantly more likely to develop at least one phenotypic mutation than the control. Additionally statistically significant changes were seen in activity patterns and reflex immediately after exposure. Overall, it is probable that exposure to aerosolized VG and PG is a major problem.