Cardiovascular function during early development is suppressed by cinnamon flavored, nicotine-free, electronic cigarette vapor.

OBJECTIVES

Vaping products continue to remain popular among teens and young adults despite an overall lack of research regarding their potential health effects. While much research focuses on respiratory effects associated with electronic cigarette use, their effects on other systems, including embryonic cardiovascular function and development due to maternal use during pregnancy, also needs to be evaluated. Here, we assessed the impact of nicotine-free, cinnamon and chocolate flavored, electronic cigarette vapor on cardiovascular function during early development by exposing wild-type zebrafish embryos to electronic cigarette vapor.

METHODS

Vapor was produced from a second-generation style vape pen and was incorporated into dechlorinated water at 0.6, 12, and 25 puffs/L, where one puff equals 55 ml of vapor. Vapor infused water was distributed among flasks to which zebrafish embryos were added. Exposures lasted for 24 hours and cardiovascular videos were recorded. Videos were analyzed and end systolic volume, end diastolic volume, stroke volume, heart rate, cardiac output, red blood cell density, and arterial and venous blood vessel diameters were measured.

RESULTS

Here, it was found that embryonic exposure to nicotine free, cinnamon, and not chocolate, flavored electronic cigarette vapor at 25 puffs/L significantly decreased all cardiovascular parameters measured, with the exception of blood vessel diameter. No significant effect on any measured parameter was observed at 0.6 or 12 puffs/L with either flavor.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that cinnamon flavored electronic cigarette vapor can affect cardiovascular function during early development, even in the absence of nicotine, particularly at elevated exposure concentrations.