Exposure to Potentially Harmful E-Cigarette Emissions via Vape Tricks: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Study.

Robert Furberg,Alexa M Ortiz,Margaret Cress,Michelle Mccombs,Youn Ok Lee,Jessica K Pepper,Jonathan Thornburg

doi:10.2196/12304

Abstract

BackgroundThe number of adolescents and adults using e-cigarettes, referred to as vaping, has dramatically increased. E-cigarettes can be used to perform vape tricks by inhaling and exhaling the e-cigarette aerosol in patterns to create visual effects or large clouds. To create these effects, the puffing patterns associated with vape tricks may be different than standard ad-lib e-cigarette usage. The prevalence of vape tricks and the harm associated with exposure to e-cigarette emissions when performing vape tricks is currently unknown.ObjectiveOur objectives are to characterize duration, heart rate, respiratory rate, tidal volume, minute volume, and physical activity metrics associated with the performance of vape tricks and to characterize the emission of e-cigarettes when performing vape tricks in a manner suitable to inform novel exposure modeling.MethodsThe study will recruit e-cigarette users with a history of performing vape tricks. Data collection will occur in two different sessions. In the first session, participants will be asked to puff on their e-cigarette as they normally would for 20 minutes. The second session will be a vape tricks session, where users will be asked to perform a series of up to five different vape tricks with their e-cigarette. Data will be collected through screener surveys, in-person interviews, video recordings, a personal exposure monitor, and a biometric garment.ResultsData analysis is pending and scheduled to take place in the fall of 2019.ConclusionsThis study will be used to assess the feasibility of using a biometric garment to complement environmental and observational data. The approach may provide greater insight into the health risks of performing vape tricks compared to typical e-cigarette use.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/12304

Highlights

Adolescent and adult use of e-cigarettes, referred to as vaping, has increased dramatically since e-cigarettes were introduced to the US market in 2007 [1,2]
The approach may provide greater insight into the health risks of performing vape tricks compared to typical e-cigarette use
In an attempt to begin addressing this gap, this paper describes the protocol of a feasibility study where the primary aim is to collect and compare the heart rate, breathing rate, and activity metrics associated with performing vape tricks alongside the metrics of standard ad-lib e-cigarette usage

Summary

Introduction

Adolescent and adult use of e-cigarettes, referred to as vaping, has increased dramatically since e-cigarettes were introduced to the US market in 2007 [1,2]. Adolescent e-cigarette use may lead to future initiation of cigarette smoking [6]. The number of adolescents and adults using e-cigarettes, referred to as vaping, has dramatically increased. E-cigarettes can be used to perform vape tricks by inhaling and exhaling the e-cigarette aerosol in patterns to create visual effects or large clouds. To create these effects, the puffing patterns associated with vape tricks may be different than standard ad-lib e-cigarette usage. The prevalence of vape tricks and the harm associated with exposure to e-cigarette emissions when performing vape tricks is currently unknown

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion