Analysis of ElfBar Elfa vaping product aerosol compared with cigarette smoke and regulatory safety limits

Smoking-related disease is related to inhalational toxicant exposure. Here, we assessed levels of 17 analytes, which have a potential link to smoking-related disease, in aerosol from four variants of the ElfBar Elfa vaping product compared with cigarette smoke levels or safety limits. Carbon monoxide, NNK and NNN, acrolein, benzo[a]pyrene, 1,3-butadiene, benzene, cadmium and arsenic were below detectable or quantifiable levels in all vaping product aerosols. For formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, these were between 99.6% and 99.9% lower than levels in 3R4F reference cigarette smoke depending on the variant assessed. For metals quantifiable in the aerosols, assumed potential exposure levels among users were all significantly lower than USP permissible daily exposure levels for inhalational medicines or below NIOSH-recommended exposure limits. Overall, toxicant exposure among smokers completely switching to Elfa vaping product use would be significantly reduced, or eliminated, compared with continued smoking. Further, metal exposure is likely not of toxicological concern.