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Hidden Formaldehyde in E-Cigarette Aerosols (New England Journal of Medicine, NBC News)

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The New England Journal of Medicine published a study from Portland State University entitled “Hidden Formaldehyde in E-Cigarette Aerosols”. The study found that formaldehyde-containing hemiacetals can be formed during the e-cigarette “vaping” process. Formaldehyde is a known degradation product of propylene glycol that reacts with propylene glycol and glycerol during vaporization to produce hemiacetals.

Researchers noted that in many samples of the aerosol in “vaped” e-cigarettes, more than 2% of the total solvent molecules have converted to formaldehyde-releasing agents, reaching concentrations higher than concentrations of nicotine.

Read NBC News story on High levels of Formaldehyde Hidden in E-cigs.