Stanford Study Shows Americans Inhaling Unintended Substances

According to a report by FUTURITY website, a new study conducted by Stanford University reveals that Americans are consuming substances they never thought of inhaling before, including melatonin, essential oils, tea, vitamins, caffeine, and other non-nicotine substances.

This survey questioned the usage habits of over 6,000 adolescents, young adults, and adults aged 13-40. It is the first nationwide sample survey on the intake of non-nicotine products.

Scientists say that while some non-nicotine substances may be safe for ingestion, inhaling them through vaporization may harm the lungs. Chemicals, solvents, and flavors found in non-nicotine vaping products also exist in nicotine vaping products and have been shown to have harmful effects unrelated to nicotine.

According to Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, a professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine and a senior author of a paper on the online edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, "Our most striking finding was that nearly 14% of youths and 24% of young adults had used non-nicotine electronic cigarettes.

Non-nicotine electronic cigarettes currently evade regulation by the Food and Drug Administration for nicotine e-cigarettes or intake supplements, which means there are no restrictions on the equipment, ingredients, or marketing of these products. Additionally, there is no age limit for purchasing these products. According to Halpern-Felsher, many sellers make unfounded health claims, making electronic cigarettes appear safe to both youth and adults, despite their safety never being tested.

According to Halpern-Felsher, "Anything that is purchased, heated, and inhaled without a prescription is harmful to your lungs.

Investigation reveals

Researchers surveyed teenagers, young adults, and adults living across the United States, focusing on four age groups: 13-17, 18-20, 21-24, and 25-40. These groups represent different stages of development: early adolescence, young adulthood below the legal age for nicotine e-cigarette sales, prefrontal brain maturation during young adulthood, and adulthood. Participants' gender, race, and ethnicity were representative of the US population.

Participants answered questions about their use of non-nicotine electronic cigarettes, nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes, and combustible cigarettes. The survey asked if participants had ever used these products, if they had used them recently, and the timing of their first use of each product. The survey also included questions about usage patterns, specific brands, preferred flavors, and ingredients used in non-nicotine vaping devices.

Overall, approximately 26% of participants reported trying non-nicotine e-cigarettes, with nearly 17% reporting use within the past 30 days and approximately 12% within the past 7 days. Usage varied according to age, with the 21-24 year old group reporting the highest proportion of non-nicotine use (approximately 38%), followed by the 25-40 year old group at nearly 33%.

Approximately 14% of 13 to 17-year-olds and 24% of 18 to 20-year-olds have reported trying non-nicotine electronic cigarettes, with more than half of those individuals using these devices multiple times. On average, participants reported trying non-nicotine e-cigarettes at a younger age than nicotine e-cigarettes, raising concerns that non-nicotine devices could be a pathway to using nicotine-containing products.

What substances are people inhaling?

Many young survey participants are unaware of what they are vaping. Approximately 24% of teenagers aged 13 to 17 and 19% of young adults aged 18 to 20 reported that they do not know what is in the non-nicotine e-cigarettes they use.

Popular substances for consumption among teenagers and young people include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active compound found in marijuana. Other substances include melatonin, cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive derivative of marijuana, essential oils, caffeine, and tea.

Among adults aged 25-40, caffeine, vitamin B, tea, and tetrahydrocannabinol are all popular. A complete list of substances found in non-nicotine electronic cigarettes includes vitamin C, lavender, essential oils, propylene glycol, glycerin, and other flavorings.

Halpern-Felsher stated that while the use of marijuana compounds isn't surprising, the popularity of other substances is unexpected and concerning.

The Food and Drug Administration has designated certain chemicals added to food, including vitamins and some flavorings, as "generally recognized as safe." However, this is not always the case.

According to Halpern-Felsher, the designation of GRAS (an indicator used by the US FDA to evaluate safety of food additives) means that certain things are safe to consume or use as a skin cream. However, there is a significant difference when it comes to inhaling aerosols produced by heating substances. This is where it affects your lungs.

Halpern-Felsher emphasized that the safety and potential risks or side effects of inhaling these substances are still not clear. Furthermore, non-nicotine e-cigarettes share common ingredients with nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, such as propylene glycol, glycerin, and flavoring compounds, all of which are known to be harmful to the lungs.

Unknown dangers

Halpern-Felsher has stated that for several common substances that are smoked, our existing knowledge of their chemical properties indicates that they pose harm to the lungs, and consumers should remain cautious.

She said, 'We really need toxicologists and other scientists to help us understand the impact of these chemicals on our bodies and by what mechanisms.' For example, she noted that excessive amounts of vitamins can have toxic effects. Pulmonary surfactants are oily substances produced by the body to lubricate lung air sacs. Inhaling evaporated fatty substances, such as essential oils, glycerin (a common ingredient in all e-cigarettes), and aromatic compounds, may interfere with lung function.

The message for everyone, especially young people, is that any inhaled aerosol, except for medication prescribed by a doctor (such as asthma treatment), could potentially be dangerous.

Halpern-Felsher stated, "Maintaining the health of our lungs has never been as critical as it is now during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She hopes that these findings will stimulate policy changes to better regulate the electronic cigarette industry, especially in terms of protecting youth.

We cannot allow non-nicotine products to be available for purchase in the open market anymore, especially considering the fact that young people are sharing and inhaling them without knowing what substances they contain. We need regulation and labelling measures to ensure that these products do not end up in the hands of young people.

Source: FUTURITY.