Study on E-cigarette and Hookah Exhalation

USA: Many e-cigarette and hookah smokers exhale aerosols through the nose. It is possible that alternative tobacco products (ATP) specific consumer behaviors may result in distinct upper respiratory health implications not seen in smokers. This may include increased risk for lung inflammation and nose, sinus, and throat cancers.

The findings of this study were published in the journal Tobacco Use Insights.

The variability in ATP components, heating potential, and user behavior has made determining their health concerns challenging. To date, the majority of ATP toxicity studies have relied on recognized cigarette endpoints to determine research design. Furthermore, studies have sought to evaluate the relative biological reactions to ATPs versus those attributable to cigarettes in order to identify where ATPs fit on the tobacco harm continuum, with cigarettes indicating the highest possible danger.

Therefore, Emma Karey and team conducted this study with the objective to analyze the exhalation profiles of two renowned ATPs: hookah waterpipes (hookah) and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), and evaluate if ATP exhalation patterns were indicative of cigarette exhalation patterns.

Exhalation habits were documented (mouth alone, nose only, or both mouth and nose) among persons seen using an identifiable tobacco product in the New York City tri-state area for this study (cigarette, e-cigarette, or hookah). On city streets, cigarette smokers and e-cigarette vapers were noticed, as were water-pipe users inside Manhattan hookah establishments.

Key Findings

• E-cigarette vapers used just their noses to exhale at considerably greater rates than cigarette smokers (19.5% vs 4.9%).
• The type of e-cigarette equipment used by vapers was also shown to be substantially related to exhalation characteristics.
• Cigarette smokers exhaled from their nose roughly half to one-third more frequently than ATP users (e-cigarettes and hookah, respectively).

In conclusion, since hookah and vaping devices are used in different ways than traditional cigarettes, it is necessary to consider illnesses of both the nose and the lungs when determining if one is more dangerous than the other.

Reference

Karey, E., Reed, T., Katsigeorgis, M., Farrell, K., Hess, J., Gibbon, G., Weitzman, M., & Gordon, T. (2022). Exhalation of alternative tobacco product aerosols differs from cigarette smoke—and may lead to alternative health risks. In Tobacco Use Insights (Vol. 15, p. 1179173X2210782). SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/1179173x221078200