Electronic cigarette solvents, pulmonary irritation, and endothelial dysfunction: role of acetaldehyde and formaldehyde

Use of electronic cigarettes (E-cig) induces endothelial dysfunction (ED) in healthy humans, yet the specific constituents in E-cig aerosols that contribute to ED are unknown. Our study implicates formaldehyde that is formed in heating of E-cig solvents (propylene glycol, PG; vegetable glycerin, VG). Exposure to formaldehyde or PG-VG-derived aerosol alone stimulated ED in female mice. As ED was independent of nicotine and flavorants, these data reflect a "universal flaw" of E-cigs that use PG-VG.Listen to this article's corresponding podcast at https://ajpheart.podbean.com/e/e-cigarettes-aldehydes-and-endothelial-dysfunction/.