RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Levels of selected carcinogens and toxicants in vapour from electronic cigarettes JF Tobacco Control JO Tob Control FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 133 OP 139 DO 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050859 VO 23 IS 2 A1 Maciej Lukasz Goniewicz A1 Jakub Knysak A1 Michal Gawron A1 Leon Kosmider A1 Andrzej Sobczak A1 Jolanta Kurek A1 Adam Prokopowicz A1 Magdalena Jablonska-Czapla A1 Czeslawa Rosik-Dulewska A1 Christopher Havel A1 Peyton Jacob III A1 Neal Benowitz YR 2014 UL http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/23/2/133.abstract AB Significance Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, are devices designed to imitate regular cigarettes and deliver nicotine via inhalation without combusting tobacco. They are purported to deliver nicotine without other toxicants and to be a safer alternative to regular cigarettes. However, little toxicity testing has been performed to evaluate the chemical nature of vapour generated from e–cigarettes. The aim of this study was to screen e-cigarette vapours for content of four groups of potentially toxic and carcinogenic compounds: carbonyls, volatile organic compounds, nitrosamines and heavy metals. Materials and methods Vapours were generated from 12 brands of e-cigarettes and the reference product, the medicinal nicotine inhaler, in controlled conditions using a modified smoking machine. The selected toxic compounds were extracted from vapours into a solid or liquid phase and analysed with chromatographic and spectroscopy methods. Results We found that the e-cigarette vapours contained some toxic substances. The levels of the toxicants were 9–450 times lower than in cigarette smoke and were, in many cases, comparable with trace amounts found in the reference product. Conclusions Our findings are consistent with the idea that substituting tobacco cigarettes with e-cigarettes may substantially reduce exposure to selected tobacco-specific toxicants. E-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy among smokers unwilling to quit, warrants further study. (To view this abstract in Polish and German, please see the supplementary files online.)