This is not the first and it will not be the last! A new study published last Wednesday by the public health institute sciensano comes to put a new doubt on the aromas used in the vape. In fact, e-cigarettes currently on the market contain certain flavors with genotoxic properties.
SUBSTANCES WITH A POTENTIAL RISK FOR HEALTH?
You know, here we do not usually hide the studies against vaping. A new study published last Wednesday by the public health institute sciensano comes to put a new doubt on the aromas used in the vape. Sciensano analyzed 129 liquids for electronic cigarettes to determine their dangerousness and found among them five potentially genotoxic chemicals. These can compromise the genetic integrity of cells, which can lead to mutations and be the source of benign tumors or cancers.
These substances are estragole, safrole, 2-acetylfuran, furaneol and transhexenal. Safrole is found in Sassafras oil and is already banned as a food flavor. In a subsequent phase of the study, Sciensano analyzed 24 fluids: four of them tested positive for two of the five genotoxic substances mentioned above.
Worldwide, more than 7.000 different flavors are available for electronic cigarettes: they can be synthetic fragrances, but also natural extracts and even essential oils. As the range is very wide, a complete risk assessment of the chemical compounds present requires a systematic approach. Sciensano has therefore tested 129 liquids for electronic cigarettes using computer models that can, in particular, accurately predict the genotoxicity of chemical compounds.
» More research is needed on the safety of the flavors present in electronic cigarettes, because currently, a lot of data is still lacking, in particular on the genotoxicity of certain ingredients. ", Affirms Sophia barhdadi, researcher at Sciensano. " In the meantime, the use of ingredients posing a potential health risk should be limited as much as possible as a precautionary measure. For example, we suggest a list of prohibited ingredients in order to limit the risks of electronic cigarettes. »
