SynthesisInternational journal of environmental research and public health2023
Chemical Profiles and Toxicity of Electronic Cigarettes: An Umbrella Review and Methodological Considerations.
Synthesis in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) Guidance for the Management of Electronic Cigarette Use (Vaping) in Adolescents and Adults.Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) · 2025Guideline
- Metal in biological samples from electronic cigarette users and those exposed to their second-hand aerosol: a narrative review.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Pooled it
- Associations between dual use of combustible cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems and allergic rhinitis: An analysis of KNHANES data.The World Allergy Organization journal · 2026Article
- Salivary Proteomics Reveals Oxidative Markers in E-Cigarette Users.Journal of proteome research · 2026Article
- E-cigarette Duration and Incident COPD Among Adults Aged 40 Years and Older with a Smoking History.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026Article
- Multisystem Toxicity of E-Cigarettes in Preclinical and Clinical Studies: Pathophysiologic Effects of E-Cigarette Aerosol Exposures from Head to Toe.Annual review of pharmacology and toxicology · 2026Review
- Sweeteners in E-Cigarettes: A Minireview of Flavoring and Biological Action.Journal of xenobiotics · 2025Review
- Exposure to Toxic Compounds Using Alternative Smoking Products: Analysis of Empirical Data.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Electronic Cigarette-Derived Metals: Exposure and Health Risks in Vapers.Chemical research in toxicology · 2025Review
- Elemental composition of vaping and smoking aerosols: Influence of liquid type and tank conditions.PloS one · 2025Article
- Oral health risks in adults who use electronic nicotine delivery systems and oral nicotine pouches: a critical review of the literature and qualitative synthesis of the available evidence.Harm reduction journal · 2024Review
- Salivary Metabolic Pathway Alterations in Brazilian E-Cigarette Users.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Article
- Methods for a Non-Targeted Qualitative Analysis and Quantification of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylenes by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry of E-Liquids and Aerosols in Commercially Available Electronic Cigarettes in Mexico.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Article
- The role of puff volume in vaping emissions, inhalation risks, and metabolic perturbations: a pilot study.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Article
- Challenges in current inhalable tobacco toxicity assessment models: A narrative review.Tobacco induced diseases · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundElectronic cigarettes (ECs) are often marketed as a safer alternative to combustible tobacco products. The global EC market has rapidly expanded since their introduction, creating an urgent need for research describing the toxicity and chemical composition of ECs. We conducted an umbrella review to summarize the evidence from existing systematic reviews (SRs).
methodsThe search for SRs was conducted across four electronic databases through 25 January 2022. Methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 quality appraisal tool.
resultsTwenty-five SRs were included in our umbrella review. Chemical profiles widely varied across studies included in the reviews, which was mainly attributed to the lack of standardized protocols investigating the constituents, and differences in EC devices and e-liquids tested. Metals were more abundant in some EC aerosols than cigarettes, while carbonyls were typically found at lower levels. There was consistent evidence of in vitro toxicity from EC aerosol and e-liquid exposure. AMSTAR-2 revealed important limitations across reviews.
conclusionsWhile most reviews concluded that ECs were likely less harmful than cigarettes, there was hesitancy to draw clear conclusions due to variable analytical procedures and inconsistent findings among the included studies. Future SRs with improved methodology and reporting are needed to adequately inform tobacco regulatory actions.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.