E-cigarettes Show Lower Cell Toxicity Than Traditional Cigarettes

Nov.18.2022
E-cigarettes Show Lower Cell Toxicity Than Traditional Cigarettes
The study found that e-cigarettes have less impact on cells than traditional cigarettes, using extracellular vesicle proteomics for analysis.

On November 5th, a research team led by Associate Researcher Yu Suhong from Fuzhou University published a paper in the authoritative global toxicology journal, "Toxicology in Vitro," which found that the impact of electronic cigarettes on cells is significantly lower than that of traditional cigarettes.


The study used exosome proteomics for the first time to compare the effects of electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes on human bronchial epithelial cells. Exosomes are small membrane vesicles containing complex RNA and proteins, which can be used as biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of diseases such as cancer.


Research data shows that cigarette tar leads to more differences in protein expression of extracellular vesicles within cells, and these are significantly enriched in cancer signaling pathways. Meanwhile, differences caused by e-cigarettes are less pronounced. Toxicology studies have also found that cigarette tar significantly inhibits cell activity, while e-cigarette tar did not produce similar negative effects, indicating that the cellular toxicity of e-cigarettes is relatively low.


The paper was published in the toxicology SCI journal, "In Vivo Toxicology.


In recent years, several studies have found that electronic cigarettes may be a form of harm reduction product.


In 2021, the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine published a paper in Cancer stating that e-cigarettes could be effective tools for quitting smoking and also decrease the production of carcinogens in smokers' lungs. In 2022, an editorial in Nature suggested that for patients with gum health concerns, e-cigarettes may be a safer nicotine substitute and could reduce the risk of oral cancer.


According to Associate Researcher Yu Suhong, this study is the first to systematically analyze the safety of cigarettes and e-cigarettes starting from extracellular vesicles, filling a gap in the relevant field.


According to research findings, electronic cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes and may be a reduced-harm product," said Yu Suhong. However, electronic cigarettes are not entirely safe and should not be used by non-smokers.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

UK Vaping Products Duty to Raise £565 Million by 2030/31
UK Vaping Products Duty to Raise £565 Million by 2030/31
The UK will introduce Vaping Products Duty on all vaping liquids from October 1, 2026, with government revenue forecast to rise from £135 million in 2026/27 to £565 million by 2030/31.
Jun.18
Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italy’s Lazio Regional Administrative Court has dismissed an appeal by Italian Tobacco Manufacturing and Manifattura Italiana Tabacco over the cigarette excise calculation mechanism, upholding the minimum tax burden rules and excluding compensation for smaller tobacco operators.
News
Jun.26 by 2Firsts Perspectives
PMI Partners With Italian Tenor Andrea Bocelli to Launch “Believe. Further” Platform
PMI Partners With Italian Tenor Andrea Bocelli to Launch “Believe. Further” Platform
Philip Morris International (PMI) and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli have launched “Believe. Further,” a multi-year communications platform targeting cultural, institutional and business audiences in Europe, as PMI says smoke-free products accounted for 43% of its net revenues as of the first quarter of 2026.
Jul.01
2Firsts Hosts U.S. Compliance Briefing on Building PMTA Support Capabilities Across the Nicotine Supply Chain
2Firsts Hosts U.S. Compliance Briefing on Building PMTA Support Capabilities Across the Nicotine Supply Chain
2Firsts held a U.S. compliance briefing in Shenzhen to help vaping, heated tobacco and nicotine pouch supply chain companies strengthen PMTA support capabilities. The event focused on supplier documentation, quality systems, traceability, TPMF/TPMP pathways, age verification and customer audit readiness as U.S. compliance expectations increasingly extend deeper into the nicotine supply chain.
Events
Jun.12
UK Parliament Briefing Puts Vape Hardware Design and Materials in Regulatory Focus
UK Parliament Briefing Puts Vape Hardware Design and Materials in Regulatory Focus
The UK Parliament’s Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) has published a scientific briefing reviewing current evidence on the health effects of vape device components, including heating elements, power settings, metals, plastics, batteries and e-liquid ingredients, signalling growing regulatory attention to device design and whole-product systems beyond e-liquids, flavours and packaging.
Special Report
Jun.29
Vape Industry Group Loses Alabama Court Fight as State Tightens Rules on Imported Products
Vape Industry Group Loses Alabama Court Fight as State Tightens Rules on Imported Products
The Alabama Supreme Court affirmed a lower court’s refusal to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the state’s 2025 electronic nicotine delivery systems law, allowing rules requiring covered products to be U.S.-made or FDA-authorized to remain in effect.
Jul.10