Use of Real-Time Aerosol Monitors to Evaluate Secondhand Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Exposure Inside Vehicles

SINAN SOUSAN, Ronald Mooring, Sarah Fresquez, Yoo Min Park, Vivien Coombs, Nicole Bertges, Luke Thomas, Emily Gold, Anish Gogineni, Alex Tiet, Jack Pender, Eric Soule, Department of Public Health, East Carolina University

     Abstract Number: 148
     Working Group: Aerosol Exposure

Abstract
Electronic cigarette (ECIG) use continues to be highly prevalent, especially among youth and young adults. Secondhand ECIG exposure puts bystanders at risk of inhaling harmful substances, especially in confined spaces. A study was conducted to measure secondhand ECIG aerosol exposure inside vehicles, with participants completing a 30-minute vaping session in their own vehicle using their preferred ECIG device. Sessions included a 5-minute 10-puff directed bout (30 second interpuff interval) followed by a 25-minute ad libitum bout. Real-time and filter PM_2.5 (particles 2.5 µm and smaller) measurements were captured during the sessions using a MiniWRAS, pDR, SidePak, and GeoAir2 low-cost monitor. A total of 56 participants with valid measurements were included in the study, with a total of 13 different ECIG brands, that include Vuse Alto, Box Air Bar, ElfBar, Esco Bar, Geek Vape, Hyde Edge, JUUL, Kang Onee Stick (KOS), Kang Onee Stick plus (KOS+), Nord X, Nord 2, Nord 3, and Vaporesso. During the 5-minute directed bout, the highest real-time PM2.5 average concentrations were represented by the JUUL (176 µg/m³) measured by the MiniWRAS, Esco Bar (1,154 µg/m³) measured by the pDR, and the Esco Bar (3,314 µg/m³) measured by the SidePak, where the pDR and SidePak values were much higher than the MiniWRAS. The filter measurements were not detectable for most experiments, except for two participants who took 205 and 285 puffs, ~10 times the average (30) puffs of all participants. The evaluation of GeoAir2 with the MiniWRAS showed a wide range of r values that spanned from -0.03 and 1.00 for the 13 ECIG brands. The mass median diameter (0.31 to 3.42 µm) and geometric standard deviation (2.47 to 8.21) were different based on the participants for the same ECIG brand. Secondhand ECIG aerosol exposure inside vehicles could be hazardous, especially for high concentrations during short periods.