Exploring the Wild West of E-Cigarettes

Researchers are helping tackle complex issues surrounding human exposure to chemicals from the use of e-cigarettes. The ToxWatch article “The Wild West of E-Cigarettes,” brings to light that this emerging area is really a wild west due to the ever-evolving designs, flavors, brands, and unexpected ways that users approach the experience, just to point out some of the many factors that influence the effects of this immensely popular product, particularly among youth. Innovation in study designs and approaches are advanced as the way forward in understanding and protecting public health impacts.

“The popularity of e–cigarettes is growing exponentially. Yet, the health risks associated with their use remain unclear, mainly due to the fact that they are not ‘one product,’ but a combination of ever-evolving designs, flavors, brands, and modes of use, ” write Silvia Balbo and Irina Stepanov in the abstract . “Research needs to better understand how these variables affect toxicity.”

This poster lays out the differences between various e-cigarette products and the gaps in our current understanding of their risks. Click on the image below to download a high-quality PDF of the poster, suitable for printing.

Chemical Research in Toxicology has a new article type in 2018: ToxWatch, which pairs a single large, eye-catching graphic with short, accessible text to explore current issues in toxicology.

Chemical Research in Toxicology aims to serve the diverse, global research community with ToxWatch, just as it does in every article it publishes. To date, the journal has published ToxWatch from the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The journal welcomes ToxWatch contributions from all parts of the world.