![Electronic cigarettes: the aromas would alter the cells of the heart](https://img.passeportsante.net/1000x526/2020-12-16/i98138-.jpeg)
A new study published in the American Journal of Physiology shows the harmful effects of certain flavors used for e-liquids.
Altered heart rate in mice
Many former smokers have switched to electronic cigarettes, using them as a smoking cessation aid, sometimes attracted by the variety of scents on offer.
However, a study conducted by scientists at the University of South Florida on mice, shows that certain aromas have harmful effects on the heart.
The team of researchers tested the effect of three aromas of electronic cigarettes: an aroma that combines aromas of passion fruit, orange and guava, an aroma mimicking that of a vanilla cream and a final reproducing that of cereals with apple and cinnamon.
The toxicity of the fumes generated by these three liquids was tested in a series of experiments. in vitro, on cultured mouse heart muscle cells.
Results ? Rodents exposed for 10 weeks, 5 days a week, to the vanilla cream e-cigarette scent exhibited cardiac arrhythmia.
The three aromas also precipitated cell death by apoptosis or necrosis, while the smoke generated by a liquid composed only of the solvent did not alter the electrical activity of the cells. The vanilla aroma seemed to be the most toxic.
“This experiment has shown us that flavoring chemicals added to vaping devices can increase damage beyond what nicotine alone can do.”, explained Sami Noujaim, one of the researchers, in a press release.
“We conclude that the very popular flavors are not safe and have the potential for heart damage. Further studies are needed to further assess their cardiac safety profile and their long-term health effects ” concludes the study.