Summary of New Research Reveals Why You Shouldn’t Use Mint Vapes:
Adding mint flavor to e-cigarette liquids leads to more harmful vapor particles and worse lung function in users, according to research from the University of Pittsburgh. The study used a robotic system that simulated human respiration and vaping habits and found that commercially available e-cigarette liquids with menthol generated more harmful microparticles than liquids without menthol. Regardless of age, gender, race, history of smoking, and use of other substances, menthol-based e-cigarette users exhibited shallower breaths and diminished lung function compared to their non-menthol counterparts.
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Mint-flavored e-cigarette liquids linked to worse lung function, study finds
A new study from the University of Pittsburgh has found that adding mint flavor to e-cigarette liquids leads to more harmful vapor particles and could lead to worse lung function in users. Using a custom-made robotic system that mimics human respiration and vaping habits, the researchers found that commercially available e-cigarette liquids with menthol produced more microparticles than liquids without menthol. A subsequent examination of patient records from e-cigarette users backed this up. “Just because something is safe to consume as food does not mean it’s safe to inhale,” says senior author Kambez H. Benam.
Traditional toxicity testing is not keeping up with regulatory needs.
The traditional animal or cell-based toxicity testing methods can take weeks or months to produce high-quality data on e-cigarette safety. Regulatory bodies are therefore struggling to keep up and test vaping products’ safety promptly. Therefore, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have developed a biologically-inspired “vaping robot” that can simulate the pattern of healthy and diseased breathing and predict lung toxicity related to e-cigarettes. By measuring the size and number of aerosolized particles in a vaping liquid, the robot can quickly yield high-quality data that can be used to infer potential toxicity.
U.S. FDA puts pressure on cigarette manufacturers to eliminate menthol
To combat preventable deaths, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is pressuring cigarette manufacturers to eliminate menthol in combustible tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars, as they have been linked to worse lung function. However, the market for vaping products continues to expand, and mint and menthol flavors remain highly popular among the 2.5 million youth who reported smoking e-cigarettes in 2022. While switching to e-cigarettes may be a better alternative for someone trying to quit smoking, it’s essential to fully understand the risks and benefits beforehand.
Reference: Chandra et al. (2023) Electronic cigarette menthol flavoring is associated with increased inhaled micro and sub-micron particles and worse lung function in combustion cigarette smokers. Respiratory Research doi: 10.1186/s12931-023-02410-9
