Secondary indoor air pollution and passive smoking associated with cannabis smoking using electric cigarette device-demonstrative in silico study.

With electronic (e)-liquids containing cannabis components easily available, many anecdotal examples of cannabis vaping using electronic cigarette devices have been reported. For electronic cigarette cannabis vaping, there are potential risks of secondary indoor air pollution from vapers. However, quantitative and accurate prediction of the inhalation and dermal exposure of a passive smoker in the same room is difficult to achieve due to the ethical constraints on subject experiments.

Measurement of heating coil temperature for e-cigarettes with a "top-coil" clearomizer.

Objectives: To determine the effect of applied power settings, coil wetness conditions, and e-liquid compositions on the coil heating temperature for e-cigarettes with a "top-coil" clearomizer, and to make associations of coil conditions with emission of toxic carbonyl compounds by combining results herein with the literature.

Methods: The coil temperature of a second generation e-cigarette was measured at various applied power levels, coil conditions, and e-liquid compositions, including (1) measurements by thermocouple at three e-liquid fill levels (dry, wet-through-wick, and full-wet), three coil resistances (low, standard, and high), and four voltage settings (3-6 V) for multiple coils using propylene glycol (PG) as a test liquid; (2) measurements by thermocouple at additional degrees of coil wetness for a high resistance coil using PG; and (3) measurements by both thermocouple and infrared (IR) camera for high resistance coils using PG alone and a 1:1 (wt/wt) mixture of PG and glycerol (PG/GL).

Results: For single point thermocouple measurements with PG, coil temperatures ranged from 322 ‒ 1008°C, 145 ‒ 334°C, and 110 ‒ 185°C under dry, wet-through-wick, and full-wet conditions, respectively, for the total of 13 replaceable coil heads.

A toxicological review of the ethylene glycol series: Commonalities and differences in toxicity and modes of action.

This review summarizes the hazards, exposure and risk that are associated with ethylene glycols (EGs) in their intended applications. Ethylene glycol (EG; CAS RN 107-21-1) and its related oligomers include mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, and penta-EG. All of the EGs are quickly and extensively absorbed following ingestion and inhalation, but not by the dermal route.

A Device-Independent Evaluation of Carbonyl Emissions from Heated Electronic Cigarette Solvents.

Objectives: To investigate how the two main electronic (e-) cigarette solvents-propylene glycol (PG) and glycerol (GL)-modulate the formation of toxic volatile carbonyl compounds under precisely controlled temperatures in the absence of nicotine and flavor additives.

Methods: PG, GL, PG:GL = 1:1 (wt/wt) mixture, and two commercial e-cigarette liquids were vaporized in a stainless steel, tubular reactor in flowing air ranging up to 318°C to simulate e-cigarette vaping. Aerosols were collected and analyzed to quantify the amount of volatile carbonyls produced with each of the five e-liquids.

Assessment of petroleum streams for thyroid toxicity.

The thyroid gland, and its associated endocrine hormones, is a growing area of interest in regulatory toxicology due to its important role in metabolism, growth and development. This report presents a review of the toxicology data on chemically complex petroleum streams for thyroid hormone effects. Toxicological summaries and studies from all available published and un-published sources were considered, drawing upon the European REACH regulatory submissions for 19 petroleum streams, with in depth review of 11 individual study reports and 31 published papers on related products or environmental settings.

Mercury Toxicity and Contamination of Households from the Use of Skin Creams Adulterated with Mercurous Chloride (Calomel).

Inorganic mercury, in the form of mercurous chloride, or calomel, is intentionally added to some cosmetic products sold through informal channels in Mexico and the US for skin lightening and acne treatment. These products have led to multiple cases of mercury poisoning but few investigations have addressed the contamination of cream users' homes. We report on several cases of mercury poisoning among three Mexican-American families in California from use of mercury-containing skin creams.

Serum concentrations of chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, furans and PCBs, among former phenoxy herbicide production workers and firefighters in New Zealand.

Purpose: To quantify serum concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and dioxin-like compounds in former phenoxy herbicide production plant workers and firefighters, 20 years after 2,4,5-T production ceased.

Methods: Of 1025 workers employed any time during 1969-1984, 430 were randomly selected and invited to take part in a morbidity survey and provide a blood sample; 244 (57%) participated. Firefighters stationed in close proximity of the plant and/or engaged in call-outs to the plant between 1962 and 1987 also participated (39 of 70 invited).

A toxicological review of the propylene glycols.

The toxicological profiles of monopropylene glycol (MPG), dipropylene glycol (DPG), tripropylene glycol (TPG) and polypropylene glycols (PPG; including tetra-rich oligomers) are collectively reviewed, and assessed considering regulatory toxicology endpoints. The review confirms a rich data set for these compounds, covering all of the major toxicological endpoints of interest. The metabolism of these compounds share common pathways, and a consistent profile of toxicity is observed.

Mainstream smoke emissions of Australian and Canadian cigarettes.

We investigated how mainstream smoke emissions vary and interrelate in 15 Australian and 21 Canadian brands, using public emissions disclosures from 2001. These disclosures provided emission data for 40 hazardous agents under both standard and intensive ISO testing conditions. Our analyses focused on "adjusted emissions" (i.

Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure in New Zealand bars: results prior to implementation of the bar smoking ban.

Aims: To measure secondhand smoke (SHS) levels in New Zealand bars prior to smokefree legislation enacted on 10 December 2004.

Methods: Thirty bars were randomly selected from urban, surburban, and surrounding rural areas of Auckland, Wellington, and Invercargill. Bars were visited (on a Friday or Saturday night for a 3-hour stay between 1800 and 2400 hours) in July/August/September 2004 (winter) and again in October/November 2004 (spring).

Ethnic differences in nicotine metabolic rate among New Zealanders.

Aims: To estimate (a) the prevalence of gene variants associated with slow nicotine metabolism in the general Maori population and (b) nicotine intake and metabolic rate in Maori and European smokers.

Methods: The procedure involved (a) genotyping 85 Maori participants for cytochrome P-450 2A6 (CYP2A6) gene variants, which are associated with reduced nicotine metabolic rate (ie CYP2A6*9 and *4); and (b) measuring salivary cotinine (COT) and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine (3-HC) as biomarkers of nicotine intake and metabolic rate in 12 female smokers from the Hawke's Bay Region (6 Maori and 6 European).

Results: (a) The frequencies of the slow nicotine metabolising variants, CYP2A6*9 and *4, were significantly higher in Maori compared to European (p<0.

Deaths from poisoning in New Zealand: 2001-2002.

Aims: To describe the epidemiology and toxicology of poisoning deaths in New Zealand for 2001 and 2002.

Methods: Poisoning mortality data for 2001 and 2002 were collected from the Coronial Service Office (CSO) as part of the New Zealand chemical injury surveillance system.

Results: There was 235 and 234 poisoning deaths in 2001 and 2002 respectively, an annual rate of 6.

Increase in saliva cotinine after three hours' exposure to second-hand smoke in bars.

Objective: To determine whether measurement of cotinine in saliva is a sensitive measure of exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) among customers in bars.

Design: Before/after comparison of saliva cotinine and subjective assessments of SHS.

Setting: Three bars in Wellington, New Zealand, June 2003.