Health Risk Assessment of Electronic Cigarette Use among Adults in Klang Valley, Malaysia
- Author:
Aziemah Zulkifli1, Emilia Zainal Abidin1, Najihah Zainol Abidin1, Sarva Mangala Praveena1, Hasanah Mohd Ghazali2, Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin3
1
,
2
Author Information
1. 1 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
2. 2 Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. 3 University Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences (UMCAS), University Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Electronic cigarette;
E-cigarette;
Health risk;
Health risk assessment;
Cancer risk
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
2019;15(SP4):55-61
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Abstract:Introduction: The electronic cigarette (EC) usage has raised public health concerns; whether its advantages to smokers as a potential smoking cessation aid have outweighed its negative health impacts among EC users. This study aims to estimate health risks associated with chemical exposures to nicotine, propylene glycol (PG) and selected Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines (TSNAs) namely 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N’-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in e-liquids locally-manufactured in Malaysia. Methods: The health risk assessment (HRA) was performed using established guideline by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The average daily dose (ADD) and lifetime average daily dose (LADD) were calculated using previously published data on chemical concentration of selected compounds and local EC usage topography data. Next, the non-carcinogenic risk (nicotine and PG) and carcinogenic risk (NNK and NNN) were calculated and denoted as total hazard quotient (HQT) and total lifetime cancer risk (LCRT) value, respectively. Results: For non-carcinogenic risk, the mean of HQT was 78.9 which falls under “unacceptable” risk as demonstrated by HQT value of more than 1. While for carcinogenic risk, the mean of total LCRT value was 1.54E-04 which may place EC users at risk of developing cancer resulted from exposure to selected TSNAs. Conclusion: Comprehensive HRA using currently available data of local EC usage topography and chemical evaluation of Malaysian-made e-liquids have revealed that the exposure to nicotine, PG and selected TSNAs are expected to be a significant health concern for local EC users. This finding supports the local health authority to issue a stringent health policy in considering EC as a tool for smoking cessation among heavy smokers.
- Full text:11.2019my0496.pdf
