Second-hand smoke generated by combustion and electronic smoking devices used in real scenarios: Ultrafine particle pollution and age-related dose assessment

Abstract

Aerosol measurements were carried out in a model room where both combustion (conventional and hand-rolled cigarettes, a cigar and tobacco pipe) and non-combustion (e-cigarette and IQOS®) devices were smoked. The data were used to estimate the dose of particles deposited in the respiratory systems of individuals from 3months to 21years of age using the multiple-path particle dosimetry (MPPD) model. Regardless of the smoking device, the highest doses were received by infants, which reached 9.88×10⁸particles/kg bw during a cigar smoking session. Moreover, 60% to 80% of the particles deposited in the head region of a 3-month-old infant were smaller than 100nm and could be translocated to the brain via the olfactory bulb. The doses due to second-hand smoke from electronic devices were significantly lower, below 1.60×10⁸particles/kg bw, than those due to combustion devices. Dosimetry estimates were 50% to 110% higher for IQOS® than for e-cigarettes.

Keywords: Age-related dose; Electronic smoking devices; IQOS®; Secondhand smoke; Traditional smoking products; Ultrafine particles.