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Analysing The Acute Toxicity Of E-cigarette Liquids And Their Vapour On Human Lung Epithelial (a549) Cells In Vitro.

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Analysing The Acute Toxicity Of E-cigarette Liquids And Their Vapour On Human Lung Epithelial (a549) Cells In Vitro.

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Generation of Electronic Cigarette Aerosol by a Third-Generation Machine-Vaping Device: Application to Toxicological Studies

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Published on: August 25, 2018

Analysing the acute toxicity of e-cigarette liquids and their vapour on human lung epithelial (A549) cells in vitro.

Fern Findlay-Greene¹, Samantha Donnellan¹, Sharron Vass¹

¹Centre for Biomedicine and Global Health, School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Court, Edinburgh, Scotland EH11 4BN, UK.

Toxicology Reports

|August 8, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Vaping flavorings like menthol are toxic to lung cells, even as vapor. Unregulated e-liquids pose risks to lung health, requiring further research into vaping

Keywords:

Cytotoxicity E-cigarettes ENDS Lung cells Secondary vapour Vaping Vaping flavourings

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Area of Science:

Toxicology
Pulmonology
E-cigarette research

Background:

Vaping device use has surged, especially among young adults.
E-liquid flavorings lack regulation and clear labeling.
Nicotine levels are regulated, but flavoring composition is not.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare the toxicity of common e-liquid flavorings and carrier liquids.
To assess the impact of flavorings in both liquid and vapor forms on lung cells.
To investigate the potential health risks associated with vaping flavorings.

Main Methods:

Human alveolar type II cell-like A549 cells were exposed to flavorings.
Cytotoxicity was evaluated for propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), and five flavor concentrates (menthol, cherry, butterscotch, vanilla bourbon, tobacco).

A novel vapor assay was developed to assess the cytotoxicity of flavorings in aerosolized form.

Main Results:

Menthol was the most cytotoxic flavoring in liquid form (LD50 <0.5% at <4h).
Cherry and vanilla bourbon showed significant toxicity at 4% over 8h.
Menthol vapor exposure drastically reduced cell viability and increased necrosis.
Butterscotch exhibited toxicity similar to PG and VG.
Toxic chemicals and heavy metals were detected in the e-liquids.

Conclusions:

Certain vaping flavorings, particularly menthol, exhibit significant cytotoxicity to lung cells.
The vaporized form of flavorings can also be harmful, impacting cell viability and promoting necrosis.
The presence of toxic chemicals and heavy metals warrants further investigation into the long-term lung health effects of vaping.
Regulation and clear labeling of e-liquid flavorings are crucial for public health.