Toxicant Production and Mitigation in the Electronic-Cigarette Reaction Vessel

 描述（由申请人提供）：尽管电子烟对健康的影响尚不清楚，但电子烟已变得如此受欢迎，以至于一些消息来源预测其销售额将在未来十年内超过传统香烟。然而，目前，由于相关科学数据严重不足，监管工作受到很大阻碍。该提案的主要目标是澄清（i）电子烟“vaping”过程中产生的毒素的来源和水平，以及（ii）电子烟使用者吸入的颗粒和通过“二手”方式暴露的颗粒的性质。核心假设是，电子烟是促进自由基反应的反应容器，导致在高温下形成一系列产物。拟议研究的基本原理是，对影响有毒物质形成和气溶胶特性的反应变量进行全面调查，将为监管机构、制造商和家庭化学家提供更清晰的了解，以避免使用电子烟时出现的情况。已经组建了一个多学科团队，以解决电子烟的化学，工程，分析和生物学方面的问题。初步研究表明， 发现了一种以前未知的反应途径，导致总甲醛水平接近尼古丁释放水平。研究计划以我们的初步结果为基础，涉及四个具体目标。目的1是确定蒸汽烟对主要气溶胶形成分子甘油和丙二醇的影响。目的2是确定电子烟对尼古丁的影响，以及可能存在于某些电子烟液体中的相关生物碱。目的3是确定香料和环境污染物对电子烟产品的影响。目的4是确定甲醛从载体产物分子中释放的能力，并通过各种生物测定来检查电子烟气溶胶的毒性。我们将生成预测模型，使探测设计变量和控制产品形成和粒度分布（PSD）的过程成为可能。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite the fact that their health effects are unknown, electronic cigarettes have become so popular that some sources project their sales to surpass those of traditional cigarettes within the next decade. Currently, however, regulatory efforts are greatly hampered by a severe deficiency of relevant scientific data. The main objectives of this proposal are to clarify (i) the origins and levels of toxins produced during e-cigarette "vaping" and (ii) the properties of the particles that are inhaled by vapers and those exposed by "second-hand" means. The central hypothesis is that e-cigarettes are reaction vessels that promote free radical reactions that lead to a range of products formed at high temperatures. The rationale underlying the proposed research is that a comprehensive investigation of the reaction variables influencing toxicant formation and aerosol properties will provide regulatory agencies, manufacturers, and home chemists a clearer understanding of conditions to be avoided when using e-cigarettes. A multidisciplinary team has been assembled to address the chemical, engineering, analytical and biological aspects of e-cigarettes. Preliminary studies have led to the discovery of a previously-unknown reaction pathway that leads to total formaldehyde levels that approach those of delivered nicotine. The research plan builds upon our preliminary results and involves four Specific Aims. Aim 1 is to define the effect of vaping upon glycerol and propylene glycol, the primary aerosol-forming molecules. Aim 2 is to define the effect of vaping upon nicotine, as well as related alkaloids likely to be present in some e-cigarette liquids. Aim 3 is t define the effect of flavorants and environmental contaminants on vaping products. Aim 4 is to determine the ability of formaldehyde to be released from carrier product molecules, and to examine the toxicities of e- cigarette aerosols by various bioassays. We will generate predictive models that will enable probing design variables and processes controlling product formation and particle size distributions (PSDs).