Berkeley Lab: „Study reveals dangers of nicotine in third-hand smoke“

[Tom09]

Berkeley Lab News Release February 08, 2010: Study reveals dangers of nicotine in third-hand smoke

Nicotine in third-hand smoke, the residue from tobacco smoke that clings to virtually all surfaces long after a cigarette has been extinguished, reacts with the common indoor air pollutant nitrous acid to produce dangerous carcinogens. This new potential health hazard was revealed in a multi-institutional study led by researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).

[...]Co-author James Pankow points out that the results of this study should raise concerns about the purported safety of electronic cigarettes. Also known as “e-cigarettes,” electronic cigarettes claim to provide the “smoking experience,” but without the risks of cancer. A battery-powered vaporizer inside the tube of a plastic cigarette turns a solution of nicotine into a smoky mist that can be inhaled and exhaled like tobacco smoke. Since no flame is required to ignite the e-cigarette and there is no tobacco or combustion, e-cigarettes are not restricted by anti-smoking laws.
“Nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco smoke, has until now been considered to be non-toxic in the strictest sense of the term,” says Kamlesh Asotra of the University of California’s Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, which funded this study. “What we see in this study is that the reactions of residual nicotine with nitrous acid at surface interfaces are a potential cancer hazard, and these results may be just the tip of the iceberg.”[...]

Direct link to the PNAS Article:
Sleiman et al. (2010) Formation of carcinogens indoors by surface-mediated reactions of nicotine with nitrous acid, leading to potential thirdhand smoke hazards. PNAS, published online before print February 8, 2010, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0912820107

ABSTRACT: This study shows that residual nicotine from tobacco smoke sorbed to indoor surfaces reacts with ambient nitrous acid (HONO) to form carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Substantial levels of TSNAs were measured on surfaces inside a smoker’s vehicle. Laboratory experiments using cellulose as a model indoor material yielded a >10-fold increase of surface-bound TSNAs when sorbed secondhand smoke was exposed to 60 ppbv HONO for 3 hours. In both cases we identified 1-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-4-butanal, a TSNA absent in freshly emitted tobacco smoke, as the major product. The potent carcinogens 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-butanone and N-nitroso nornicotine were also detected. Time-course measurements revealed fast TSNA formation, with up to 0.4% conversion of nicotine.
Given the rapid sorption and persistence of high levels of nicotine on indoor surfaces—including clothing and human skin—this recently identified process represents an unappreciated health hazard through dermal exposure, dust inhalation, and ingestion. These findings raise concerns about exposures to the tobacco smoke residue that has been recently dubbed “thirdhand smoke.” Our work highlights the importance of reactions at indoor interfaces, particularly those involving amines and NOx/HONO cycling, with potential health impacts.

„New potential health hazard“ does always raise concerns. Also, it is likely that this study will be on the table, wherever indoor e-smoking/vaping bans are going to be considered. Perhaps some members with background knowledge could engage in a discussion of the paper and actual implications of its findings.

 

[purplxhaze420]

Great info... But this doesn't seem like something that one should worry about in a realistic situation with vaping.

 

[pianoguy]

Maybe they should test actual exhaled vapor before throwing around vague concerns about e-cigs.

 

[Drozd]

nitrous acid is a common air pollutant? where does it come from? how do they know it's the nicotine and not one of the other 4000 other chemicals?
Secondly...this is Berkley...I have issues trusting such a super ultra liberal california facility as a reliable unbiased resource

 

[nbourbaki]

From the parts of the study that I've read, they seem to intermix cigarette smoke and Nicotine which I view as a serious flaw. It would be interesting to see the entire protocol they tested. I find it very hard to believe at the nicotine doses that are typical for an e-cig what the levels TSNAs would be created.

Anyone who has cleaned the windshield of an automobile will tell you that the tar is what clings to every surface. Without the tar as a binder I would find it very hard to believe that nicotine would accumulate on the surfaces and if it did with the low mg concentrations typically found in e-cigs, it's a none issue.

Looks like the typical, I want some sensational headlines to get funding.

 

[Katmar]

Maybe they should test actual exhaled vapor before throwing around vague concerns about e-cigs.

nitrous acid is a common air pollutant? where does it come from? how do they know it's the nicotine and not one of the other 4000 other chemicals?
Secondly...this is Berkley...I have issues trusting such a super ultra liberal california facility as a reliable unbiased resource

From the parts of the study that I've read, they seem to intermix cigarette smoke and Nicotine which I view as a serious flaw. It would be interesting to see the entire protocol they tested. I find it very hard to believe at the nicotine doses that are typical for an e-cig what the levels TSNAs would be created.

Anyone who has cleaned the windshield of an automobile will tell you that the tar is what clings to every surface. Without the tar as a binder I would find it very hard to believe that nicotine would accumulate on the surfaces and if it did with the low mg concentrations typically found in e-cigs, it's a none issue.

Looks like the typical, I want some sensational headlines to get funding.

I wholeheartedly agree with all of the above.