Electronic Cigarettes May Damage Oral Epithelial Cells

Findings suggest a possible increase in the risk of oral disease
e-cigarette
e-cigarette

FRIDAY, July 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Aerosols from electronic cigarettes appear cytotoxic to oral epithelial cells in vitro, according to research published online May 25 in PLOS ONE.

In laboratory experiments on cultured cells, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, found that toxic substances and nanoparticles in e-cigarette vapors caused 85 percent of the tested cells to die. They said it's possible these substances can kill oral epithelial cells.

The researchers believe that similar results would be found in tests on people, and said they're planning a human study to confirm their findings. If confirmed, the researchers said that e-cigarettes could increase users' risk of oral disease.

"Our hope is to develop a screening model to help predict toxicity levels of e-cigarette products, so that consumers are better informed," study author Shen Hu, Ph.D., an associate professor of oral biology and medicine at UCLA's School of Dentistry, said in a university news release.

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