Study reveals focal toxic metal accumulation in murine lungs exposed to e-cigarette aerosol
Researchers identified organometallic species in vape aerosol and observed heterogeneous metal hotspots in mouse lungs.
Scientists have characterized the chemical composition of refillable e-cigarette liquids and their aerosols, revealing the presence of toxic metals and organometallic compounds that accumulate irregularly in pulmonary tissue springer.com
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistryspringer.comOpen source ↗. The findings were published in the journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. In an experimental model, 7-week-old Balb/c mice (n = 8 per group) were exposed to nicotine-containing aerosol (8, 16, or 32 puffs; 30 minutes, twice daily for 4 days) or ambient air to assess short-term tissue deposition.
Detection of organometallic compounds
Using an analytical platform that integrated ICP-MS, GC-ICP-MS, GC-MS, and LA-ICP-MS/MS, researchers identified multiple toxic metals and previously undocumented organometallic species in both the formulation and its emitted vapor. The identified chemical elements included aluminium, nickel, copper, arsenic, bromine, tin, and mercury. The authors reported that these organic variants of metals can penetrate biological cell membranes more readily than pure mineral forms, facilitating tissue retention.
Heterogeneous accumulation in lung tissue
Elemental bioimaging of the treated murine lungs demonstrated focal deposition patterns rather than a uniform dispersion. In exposed groups, pulmonary tissue exhibited increased copper, significantly elevated levels of nickel and lead, and a statistically significant reduction in iron concentrations (p ≤ 0.005). Data showed that lead concentrations in the highest exposure group were 25 times higher than in controls, tin increased over 15-fold, and nickel levels rose nearly fivefold even at the lowest puff regimen.
Conversely, pulmonary iron levels fell by roughly 84 percent in exposed subjects springer.com
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistryspringer.comOpen source ↗. Metal distribution patterns correlated with exposure but did not follow a strictly dose-dependent trend, suggesting complex biological deposition and clearance mechanisms. Measured metal levels in the liquids exceeded established inhalation pharmaceutical guidelines, with arsenic surpassing thresholds by 480 times, nickel by 250 times, and mercury by 180 times.
