Evidence from a mouse model on the dangers of thirdhand electronic cigarette exposure during early life

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been used in many countries for >10 years and in this time, there has been a division of opinions amongst both the general public and health professionals regarding the benefit or harms of e-cigarettes. Prior to the reporting of a new phenomenon known as vaping-associated pulmonary injury (VAPI), public opinion about the relative harm of e-cigarettes were increasing but they were perceived as less harmful than cigarettes by one third of people [1]. The recent cases of severe illness and death attributable to VAPI were first described in September 2019 [2]. VAPI appears to be related to either the addition of cannabis/cannabis derivates or vitamin E acetate [3], and as such has not caused radical swing away from the use of e-cigarettes without cannabis or cannabis derivates. Thirdhand exposure to e-cigarette residue is likely to have harmful effects in children