Electronic Cigarettes: One Size Does Not Fit All

Publication date: Available online 6 March 2018
Source:Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Author(s): Amika K. Sood, Matthew J. Kesic, Michelle L. Hernandez
Electronic cigarettes (EC) have been rapidly growing in popularity among youth and adults in the US over the last decade. This increasing prevalence is partially driven by the ability to customize devices, flavors, and nicotine content and the general notion that EC are harmless, particularly in comparison to conventional cigarettes (CC). In vitro and in vivo murine models have demonstrated a number of harmful biological effects of e-liquids (EL) and their aerosols. However, limited clinical data exists on whether these effects translate into detrimental long-term outcomes in humans. The short-term harmful respiratory effects of EC use demonstrated in non-smokers argue against their use. Slightly more favorable data, though, exists for the respiratory benefits of substituting CC with EC and the short-term efficacy of EC as smoking cessation tools. Nonetheless, available research is severely limited in regards to long-term outcomes and by study designs fraught with bias, pointing to the need for additional research efforts with well-designed longitudinal studies to guide FDA regulatory efforts. The hurdle presented by diverse device designs and EL permutations, which contribute to inconsistency of available data, also highlights the need for legislative standardization of EC.



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