The Wall Street Journal, in its December 9th, 2015, on-line edition, highlighted the results of a Harvard University study showing that e-cigarettes contain a chemical linked with ‘popcorn lung’, a severe respiratory disease. The study was published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Study Finds E-Cigarettes Contain Chemical Tied to ‘Popcorn Lung’).

 

In their study, researchers at the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health tested 51 types of e-cigarette flavors sold by leading-cigarette brands as various additives. The researchers found that 39 of the 51 flavors contained diacetyl, a chemical commonly used to add flavorings including caramel, butter, strawberry and butterscotch. The study also found two other chemicals - 2,3-pentanedione and acetonin, respectively - that were present in 23 and 46 of the 51 e-cigarette flavors.

 

According to the article, the most salient aspect of the study is its finding of diacetyl in a high percentage of e-cigarette flavors. Inhalation of diacetyl reportedly caused respiratory disease among microwave-popcorn workers in the early 2000s, coining the term 'popcorn lung' to describe the illness. The authors commented that since e-cigarette flavors are heated and vaporized, a smoker's exposure is similar to that of workers in the microwave-popcorn industry.   

 

Cerilliant offers a wide range of certified solution standards for major tobacco alkaloids, metabolites, and nitrosamines including NNN, NNK, NNAL, NAT, and NAB as well as native and stable labeled internal standards of nicotine, cotinine, nornicotine, trans-3’-hydroxycotinine, and anabasine. These reference standards are suitable for clinical toxicology, clinical and diagnostic testing, nicotine screening, and environmental monitoring applications. Cerilliant is accredited to ISO Guide 34 and ISO/IEC 17025, certified to ISO 13485 and ISO 9001, and is compliant with ISO 17511 and ISO 15194. Click on the link below to view our complete listing of nicotine/tobacco certified reference standards: