电子烟导致呼吸系统损伤的致病效应与机理研究

电子烟已经在我国和西方国家拥有大量的使用者，其中青少年占很大比例。2019年，我国15岁以上使用过电子烟的人数达1000万。在美国，21%的高中生使用过电子烟产品。电子烟作为传统香烟的“减害”产品的依据在于，其烟雾中有毒有害成分低于传统香烟。但是电子烟烟雾仍然含有尼古丁，以及醛、酮、酯，金属颗粒等物质，可能危害人类健康。目前，电子烟和传统香烟健康危害的对比研究，并没有得到统一且确定的结论。本研究将利用课题组成熟的动物暴露和呼吸系统损伤量化系统，研究洁净空气，传统香烟，电子烟产品（多种类型和暴露剂量）的健康效应。并在呼吸功能、组织、细胞和生物大分子多个生物层次量化损伤，找出可能致病的毒理机制，在环境化学和公共卫生领域具有重要的科学实践意义。本研究为高校和企业联合申请，产生的结果将迅速指导企业对电子烟的开发、改进和减害，具有巨大的转化价值。

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs or vaping) use has been promoted as a safe or less harmful alternative to tobacco smoking. Since the introduction of e-cigs into the consumer market over a decade ago, its appeal and popularity have significantly increased worldwide. To-date, studies evaluating the relative harms of these tobacco products are mostly inconclusive. The latest outbreak of vaping-related severe lung injuries and deaths and the epidemic of adolescent vaping has further underscored the urgent need for determining the biological consequences of e-cig use. In this study, we will conduct exposure experiments on model animals which will be exposed to filtered clean air, conventional tobacco smoke and various types of e-cigs, and we will also survey different age groups and dosage. The animals’ respiratory system will be comprehensively evaluated at the levels of function, tissue structure, cell composition and bio-molecules. We will provide much needed empirical data to answer urgent questions on the health consequences of exposure to e-cig comparing to tobacco smoking at each age group, as well as exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms. This investigation targets an area of high priority for systematic research and is of great scientific and public health significance.