smoking

Study: Carcinogen Exposure Lower With E-Cigarettes

Use of electronic cigarettes (EC) or nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) is associated with lower levels of carcinogens and toxins that with traditional cigarettes, according to a recent study.

Despite the popularity of ECs, little associated longitudinal health data is available. In order to compare the exposure to nicotine, tobacco-related carcinogens, and toxins among smokers of ECs, NRT, and traditional cigarettes, researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of 181 individuals categorized into the following groups: traditional cigarette users, former smokers with long-term EC or NRT use, and long-term dual combustible cigarette and EC or combustible cigarette and NRT users.
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Participants provided urine and saliva samples which were analyzed for biomarkers of nicotine, tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA), and volatile organic compounds.

Overall, after confounders were controller for, no clear between-group differences in biomarkers of nicotine were found. Those in the EC only and NRT only groups had significantly lower levels of TSNAs and volatile organic compounds than users of combustible cigarettes only, or those who use combustible cigarettes and either ECs or NRT.

“Former smokers with long-term e-cigarette–only or NRT-only use may obtain roughly similar levels of nicotine compared with smokers of combustible cigarettes only, but results varied. Long-term NRT-only and e-cigarette–only use, but not dual use of NRTs or e-cigarettes with combustible cigarettes, is associated with substantially reduced levels of measured carcinogens and toxins relative to smoking only combustible cigarettes,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Shahab L, Goniewicz ML, Blount BC, et al. Nicotine, carcinogen, and toxin exposure in long-term e-cigarette and nicotine replacement therapy users: a cross-sectional study [published online February 7, 2017]. doi:10.7326/M16-1107.