Abstract
The knowledge of possible acute and long-term health effects of aerosols inhaled from electronic cigarettes (ECs) is still limited partially due to incomplete awareness of physical phenomena related to EC-aerosol dynamics. This short review discusses the basic processes of aerosol transformation (dynamics) upon inhalation, indicating also the need for the accurate determination of the size of droplets in the inhaled EC-mist. The significance of differences in the aerosol particle size distribution for the prediction of regional deposition of inhaled mist in the respiratory system is highlighted as a decisive factor in the interactions of inhaled EC-aerosols with the organism.
Highlights
THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF EC AEROSOLElectronic cigarettes (ECs) AEROSOLElectronic cigarettes (ECs), known as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), have become popular consumer products (Palazzolo, 2013; Rom et al, 2015) being claimed both safer than tobacco cigarettes (TCs) and helpful in smoking cessation (Farsalinos and Polosa, 2014; McRobbie et al, 2014)
Aerosols emitted from ECs have special properties which should be taken into account during analysis of their dynamics and deposition in the respiratory system
Possible health outcome and nicotine delivery from ECs depend on physical properties of the emitted particles and vapors
Summary
Electronic cigarettes (ECs), known as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), have become popular consumer products (Palazzolo, 2013; Rom et al, 2015) being claimed both safer than tobacco cigarettes (TCs) and helpful in smoking cessation (Farsalinos and Polosa, 2014; McRobbie et al, 2014). EC-aerosol, usually termed “vapor,” is composed of droplets of e-liquids, which contain mainly propylene glycol (i.e., 1,2-propanediol, PG), glycerol (i.e., propane-1,2,3-triol), nicotine, water, flavorings (if added to e-liquid), preservatives and small amounts of by-products of thermal decomposition of some of these constituents (Goniewicz et al, 2014; Jensen et al, 2015). These droplets are surrounded by air and a mixture of vapors. Both PG and glycerol are hygroscopic which means that droplets can grow by taking-up the water vapor from the humid air
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