Comparison of the chemical composition of aerosols from heated tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes and their toxic impacts on the human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells

Highlights

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Comparison of heated tobacco product (HTP), e-cig and cigarette toxicity is lacking.

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HTP emits lesser carbonyls and PAHs than cigarette but more than e-cig.

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Cytotoxicity of HTP is lower than that of cigarette but stronger than that of e-cig.

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Increasing e-cig power impacts toxic compound levels and related oxidative stress.

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All devices have the potential to induce oxidative stress and inflammatory response.

Abstract

The electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) and more recently the heated tobacco products (HTP) provide alternatives for smokers as they are generally perceived to be less harmful than conventional cigarettes. However, it is crucial to compare the health risks of these different emergent devices, in order to determine which product should be preferred to substitute cigarette. The present study aimed to compare the composition of emissions from HTP, e-cigs and conventional cigarettes, regarding selected harmful or potentially harmful compounds, and their toxic impacts on the human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells. The HTP emitted less polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and carbonyls than the conventional cigarette. However, amounts of these compounds in HTP aerosols were still higher than in e-cig vapours. Concordantly, HTP aerosol showed reduced cytotoxicity compared to cigarette smoke but higher than e-cig vapours. HTP and e-cig had the potential to increase oxidative stress and inflammatory response, in a manner similar to that of cigarette smoke, but after more intensive exposures. In addition, increasing e-cig power impacted levels of certain toxic compounds and related oxidative stress. This study provides important data necessary for risk assessment by demonstrating that HTP might be less harmful than tobacco cigarette but considerably more harmful than e-cig.

Abbreviations

ALI
air-liquid interface
e-cig
electronic cigarette
GSH
reduced glutathione
GSSG
oxidized glutathione
HTP
heated tobacco products
Mb18W
Modbox e-cig model set at 18 W
Mb30W
Modbox e-cig model set at 30 W
PAHs
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Keywords

Heat-not-burn tobacco
e-Cigarette
Lung
PAHs
Carbonyls
Toxicity
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