https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-43948-4
Man Wong1, Teresa Martinez1, Mona Tran1, Cori Zuvia1, Alisa Gadkari1, Esther E. Omaiye1, Wentai Luo2, Kevin J. McWhirter2, Jihui Sha3, Ahmad Kassem3, James Wohlschlegel3, Prue Talbot1
1Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Portland State University, Portland, OR, 97207, USA
3Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
Synthetic coolants such as WS-23 are used by manufacturers in high concentrations in disposable e-cigarettes to create a cooling sensation during inhalation – even in flavors not explicitly labeled as “cool” or “ice”. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for quantification, a study published by the team of Wong et al. revealed high levels of WS-23 in e-liquids and demonstrated that this additive damages the cellular cytoskeleton in human bronchial epithelium. Using 3D EpiAirway tissue models exposed at the air-liquid interface (ALI) in a VITROCELL Cloud System, the researchers showed that WS-23 impairs essential cellular processes, including cell migration, cell spreading, and wound healing. These findings highlight the need for regulatory oversight of synthetic additives in inhalation products to protect respiratory health.
