Spice not so nice when inhaled: Scientists warn of cinnamon e-cig danger
Cinnamon flavouring in e-cigarettes damages cells lining the airways, a laboratory study has found.
Cinnamon-flavoured e-cigarettes may damage the lungs, a study has found.
The chemical that gives the spice its characteristic smell and taste has a similar effect on lung cells as toxins in cigarette smoke, say researchers.
Scientists in the US carried out tests in which they exposed human airway cells to cinnamon-flavoured liquid and spray from one of the latest e-cigarettes.
In healthy lungs, the beating cilia perform the vital function of clearing away mucus and dirt, along with bacteria and viruses.
Lead scientist Dr Phillip Clapp, from the University of North Carolina, said: “Our data suggest that when used in e-cigarettes cinnamaldehyde, like toxic aldehydes in cigarette smoke, significantly disrupts normal cell physiology in ways that may have implications for the development and exacerbation of respiratory disease.
Reactive aldehyde chemicals in cigarette smoke are known to cause lung inflammation and increase susceptibility to bacterial and viral infection.
E-cigarettes also contain aldehydes as flavouring agents, many of which are structurally similar to their toxic tobacco counterparts, said Dr Clapp.
He added: “E-cigarette emissions contain chemicals that have not been evaluated for inhalation toxicities.
“The inhalation of flavouring agents, which are frequently reactive aldehydes, poses a significant unknown in regards to the potential health risks of e-cigarette use.”
In addition, the flavouring agents were often used in “exceedingly high concentrations” in e-cigarettes, he said.
The findings were presented at the American Thoracic Society’s annual meeting in San Diego.
