53
Fehlende Information und/oder
fehlerhafte Deklaration bzgl. der
Inhaltsstoffe z.B. vermeintlich
nikotinfreier Produkte
Mögliches Vergiftungsrisiko
E-Zigarette: Aufbau, Funktion, Risi
Die Risiken …
Battery
Heating element
VAPORISER
Control electronics
Metal net
Liquid cartridge
(Exchangeable,
refillable liquid)
Hohes Vergiftungsrisi
bei nikotinhaltigen Liq
insbesondere für Kind
Verschlucken oder du
Aufnahme über die H
Verschütten.
Fehlende Information
oder fehlerhafte Dekl
bzgl. der Inhaltsstoffe
meintlich nikotinfreier
LED
Beim „Rauchen“ von E-Zigaretten werden sogenannte Liquids, d.h. Flüssigkeiten, die sich in
befinden, verdampft. Das Liquid wird mittels eines batteriebetriebenen Mechanismus erhitzt,
der Dampf eingeatmet werden kann. Die Nutzer von E-Zigaretten können die mit Liquid
gefüllten Kartuschen austauschen oder diese selbst befüllen. Über die Inhaltsstoffe der
Liquids ist wenig bekannt. Weitere Informationen finden Sie in der Stellungnahme Nr.
016/2012 des Bundesinstituts für Risikobewertung.
www.bfr.bund.de
… bei Kartuschen
… im Liquid
Studies on ingredients and emissions
of e-cigarettes
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been marketed
in Germany for several years and have since created a
new field of work for risk assessment and experimental
research. Last year, the BfR published the studies it has
carried out thus far regarding ingredients and emissions
in order to create a database for the risk assessment of
electronic cigarettes. The basis for this was a study in-
volving 28 samples of so-called e-liquids acquired by
the BfR at retail in Berlin or over the internet. Nicotine
levels, fumigation agents and selected ingredients were
studied amongst others. Ten samples were declared
“nicotine free” by the manufacturers, yet nicotine was
found in seven of them. The levels were between 0.1 and
15 milligrammes (µg) per millilitre (ml) of liquid and were
therefore low. It is likely that the nicotine entered into the
production and filling machines as a contaminant. There
were no references to nicotine on the packaging of the
remaining 18 samples, even though in some cases levels
of up to 324 µg per ml of liquid were detected. The BfR
studies documented the use of a wide variety of scent
and aroma substances, with allergenic substances such
as eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, linalool or benzaldehyde
also detected. Four samples contained coumarin, which is
banned in tobacco products and tobacco-related goods.
In place of propylene glycol and glycerol, ethylene glycol
was used as a fumigation agent in some e-cigarettes, the
use of which is not permitted in tobacco products. This
unexpected finding illustrates the fact that considerable
uncertainty will remain regarding the composition of the
liquids until a statutory duty of notification is introduced.
For the BfR study, the Chemical and Veterinary Test
Agency (CVUA) in Sigmaringen also investigated the va-
pours inhaled by users of e-cigarettes. There were indi-
cations of exposure to carcinogenic formaldehyde and
other harmful carbonyl compounds which are formed
from the fumigation agents upon heating. For the car-
bonyl compounds, a significant increase was found af-
ter around 80 puffs using an adapted machine smok-
ing regime. The remaining, 50 further puffs maintained
levels of formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds
in the range of conventional cigarette smoke. It can be
assumed that the overheating caused by low fill levels
in the depots favours the formation of carbonyl com-
pounds. These additional risks could probably be largely
minimised by technical safety features such as fill level
displays. In light of the large number of newly developed
products in recent years, the minimisation of harmful
emissions should be considered to a greater extent in
the future.
The BfR's investigations showed that, for the analysed
samples, no acute toxic risks can be expected and the
health risks are significantly lower compared to conven-
tional cigarettes. Nonetheless, many questions remain
unanswered concerning both the long-term health risks
and the safety of aromas and additives. Although many
additives can be used in food, the risks of inhalation have
generally not been tested. Like smokers, the users of
e-cigarettes need to accept both known and as yet un-
known health risks, although these risks are much lower
in relation to conventional tobacco products.
Design of an e-cigarette
Product Safety
