Oral Irritation Assessment of Electronic Liquids Using an In Vitro Oral Testing Model

March 28, 2018

While data are still being collected and analyzed, there were at least 1,300 accidental electronic liquid (e-liquid) exposures reported as of 2013. Deaths have occurred as a result of ingestion of e-liquid with the effects being attributed primarily to nicotine.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sought to regulate e-liquid through the Tobacco Control Act passed in 2009. In 2014, the FDA issued its “Deeming” proposals for public comments, which covered e-liquid manufacturing; the Final Rule giving the FDA authority to regulate e-liquids was released on May 5th, 2016.

This study investigated the oral irritation of 3 different formulations of e-liquid using an in vitro time course assay in the reconstructed tissue model EpiOral™ (MatTek Corporation, Ashland, MA, USA). All products were from the same manufacturer, contained 1.2% nicotine and differed only in their flavorings.