Sofia Yeremian, Class of 2022
Much like any trend in society, a little idea can go a long way until it becomes widespread and known…like vaping. Vapes, or e-cigarettes, emerged in the global market in the early 2000’s and soared in the last few years as their appeal grew against conventional cigarettes. E-cigarettes (aka “vapes,” “vape pens,” and “e-cigs”) are devices that deliver nicotine, flavoring, and other additives to the user through inhaled aerosols, serving as what is incorrectly believed by some to be a better alternative to tarry and chemically infused cigarettes (1). While e-cigarettes were created in China with the aim to be less harmful than regular cigarettes, they have taken a toll on the lives of both young and old. As of November 2019, 2,051 cases of significant lung disease were reported, and as of January 2020, 60 reported deaths have been due to vaping (4). The culprit in this deadly device was identified by the CDC as vitamin E acetate, a popular diluent thickener found mostly in THC vapes bought through illicit markets (4). Though science and research demonstrate the deteriorating effects of a small device (1), vaping among college students increased from 6% in 2017 to roughly 16% in 2018 (5), while marijuana use increased from 5% to 11% in the same respective years (5), demonstrating the greatest one-year increase for any substance since the survey was first administered by the Pew Research Center in 1975 (5).
While the media is often focused on cases of lung disease and abnormal illnesses that arise from the use of electronic cigarettes, the public is not well exposed to the reproductive harms these “modern” devices have on both males and females. One group reported the injection of e-cigarette liquid (e-liquid), both with and without nicotine, to result in rising toxicity levels in the testes of Wistar rats (3). This rise in toxicity levels disrupted oxidative balance and steroidogenesis, the pathway responsible for the body’s formation of steroid hormones like sex and adrenal gland hormones. The effects of e-liquid were further evaluated on the epididymis of rats using the same procedure with both nicotine and non-nicotine e-liquid. This experiment demonstrated that the e-liquid treatment with and without nicotine led to a significant drop of at least 50% in sperm vitality, an imbalance of redox status compared to the control group, and a significant increase in morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, or abnormality in the mature motile male sex cell by which the ovum is fertilized (3). After performing the e-liquid treatment on the rats continually for four weeks, the rats demonstrated a notable decrease in their testosterone levels in comparison to the control group of untreated rats. The overall data gathered from this experiment showed that e-liquid exposure, gained from use of e-cigarette and vaping devices, resulted in histopathological changes in the epididymis, decreasing sperm quality (3). Likewise, the reduction in spermatic concentration due to a decrease of testosterone levels, and the interaction between nicotine and cell membranes, lead to structural alterations of the male gametes of the rats.
The damaging effects of e-liquid within e-cigarettes are evident on male fertility, but when focusing on the female reproduction system, two factors come into play: the reproductive health of the individual and the health of a potentially developing fetus. According to research conducted at the University of North Carolina and presented through the 2019 article “E-Cigarette Exposure Delays Implantation and Causes Reduced Weight Gain in Female Offspring Exposed In Utero,” female mice were exposed to e-cigarettes for 4 weeks before mating, upon mating, and each day of their pregnancy. Compared to the control group, mice exposed to e-cigs did not reveal implantation sites in their uterus as the embryos failed to adhere to the wall of the uterus, thus leading to a delay in embryo attachment. Likewise, mating mice that were exposed to e-cigarettes for four months demonstrated an offset in time of their first litter and a lower, though not too significant, litter number. Though only one of the mice in this experiment failed to deliver a litter through this fertility trial, the effects of this experiment may be exacerbated in humans since genetic variability, environmental effectors, and cofounding health effects could contribute to an unfavorable state of fertility for a woman.
While the effects of e-cigarettes demonstrate an unfavorable effect on the fertility of women, the health effects on a fetus are under continuous research as more pregnant mothers turn toward e-cigarettes as a presumed safer alternative for regular cigarettes. The article “Epigenetic Impacts of Maternal Tobacco and E-Vapour Exposure On The Offspring Lung” illuminates the experimental procedures taken to come to the conclusion that fetus exposed to harmful chemicals from e-cigarettes in the course of their development can alter healthy lung development. Alterations of such occur during the formation of true alveoli and maturation of Type II epithelial cells and increase the child’s risks of being more vulnerable to other respiratory diseases. Studies referenced within this article confirm the ability of nicotine to cross the placenta in utero, effecting the fetus both until and after birth as they are continuously exposed to nicotine through breast milk and environmental smoke. Epigenetic aberrations in offspring due to maternal use of smoke was another prominent concern in this experiment, demonstrating increasing DNA methylation in offspring, regardless of the presence of nicotine in e-cigarette substances used. The effects of epigenetic aberrations not only remain with the offspring that has been exposed to the maternal use of tobacco, but persist across subsequent generations as the alteration of the genome of the offspring is preserved through generations, regardless of the offspring’s smoking habits during adulthood.
While the use of e-cigarettes continues to be a stubborn trend for both educated and uneducated crowds of individuals, developing research illuminates the damaging effects of vaping not only on an individual’s lungs, but on their reproductive system as well. Research conducted towards men’s reproductive system demonstrate a decrease in sperm vitality and morphological abnormities in mature sperm, while research deviated toward the female reproductive system demonstrate a time delay in embryo attachment, decrease in number of offspring, and genomic alterations in offspring. Though vaping is a trend pursued by both the young and old, society must take into consideration how an unhealthy habit could result in not only a society with deteriorating health, but an increase in infertile individuals who may struggle to start a family. Taking a stand against vaping now is a step toward a healthier future for you and family you may hope to start one day.
References:
1. E-cigarettes: Facts, Stats and Regulations. Truth Initiative. https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/emerging-tobacco-products/e-cigarettes-facts-stats-and-regulations
2. “Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 25, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html.
3. Rahali D, Jrad-Lamine A, Dallagi Y, Bdiri Y, Ba N, El May M, El Fazaa S, El Golli N. Semen Parameter Alteration, Histological Changes and Role of Oxidative Stress in Adult Rat Epididymis on Exposure to Electronic Cigarette Refill Liquid. The Chinese Journal of Physiology. 2018 Apr 30. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29526076
4. Raven, Kathleen. “Teen Vaping Linked to More Health Risks.” Yale Medicine, December 18, 2019. https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/teen-vaping/.
5. Schaeffer K. Before Recent Outbreak, Vaping Was On the Rise in U.S., Especially Among Young People. Pew Research Center. 2019 Sep 26. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/26/vaping-survey-data-roundup/
6. Wetendorf M, Randall LT, Lemma MT, Hurr SH, Pawlak JB, Tarran R, Doerschuk CM, Caron KM. E-Cigarette Exposure Delays Implantation and Causes Reduced Weight Gain in Female Offspring Exposed In Utero. Journal of the Endocrine Society. 2019 Sep 5 [accessed 2020 Mar 28]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31598571
7. Zakarya R, Adcock I, Oliver BG. Epigenetic impacts of maternal tobacco and e-vapour exposure on the offspring lung. Clinical epigenetics. 2019 Feb 19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6381655/
While the media is often focused on cases of lung disease and abnormal illnesses that arise from the use of electronic cigarettes, the public is not well exposed to the reproductive harms these “modern” devices have on both males and females. One group reported the injection of e-cigarette liquid (e-liquid), both with and without nicotine, to result in rising toxicity levels in the testes of Wistar rats (3). This rise in toxicity levels disrupted oxidative balance and steroidogenesis, the pathway responsible for the body’s formation of steroid hormones like sex and adrenal gland hormones. The effects of e-liquid were further evaluated on the epididymis of rats using the same procedure with both nicotine and non-nicotine e-liquid. This experiment demonstrated that the e-liquid treatment with and without nicotine led to a significant drop of at least 50% in sperm vitality, an imbalance of redox status compared to the control group, and a significant increase in morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, or abnormality in the mature motile male sex cell by which the ovum is fertilized (3). After performing the e-liquid treatment on the rats continually for four weeks, the rats demonstrated a notable decrease in their testosterone levels in comparison to the control group of untreated rats. The overall data gathered from this experiment showed that e-liquid exposure, gained from use of e-cigarette and vaping devices, resulted in histopathological changes in the epididymis, decreasing sperm quality (3). Likewise, the reduction in spermatic concentration due to a decrease of testosterone levels, and the interaction between nicotine and cell membranes, lead to structural alterations of the male gametes of the rats.
The damaging effects of e-liquid within e-cigarettes are evident on male fertility, but when focusing on the female reproduction system, two factors come into play: the reproductive health of the individual and the health of a potentially developing fetus. According to research conducted at the University of North Carolina and presented through the 2019 article “E-Cigarette Exposure Delays Implantation and Causes Reduced Weight Gain in Female Offspring Exposed In Utero,” female mice were exposed to e-cigarettes for 4 weeks before mating, upon mating, and each day of their pregnancy. Compared to the control group, mice exposed to e-cigs did not reveal implantation sites in their uterus as the embryos failed to adhere to the wall of the uterus, thus leading to a delay in embryo attachment. Likewise, mating mice that were exposed to e-cigarettes for four months demonstrated an offset in time of their first litter and a lower, though not too significant, litter number. Though only one of the mice in this experiment failed to deliver a litter through this fertility trial, the effects of this experiment may be exacerbated in humans since genetic variability, environmental effectors, and cofounding health effects could contribute to an unfavorable state of fertility for a woman.
While the effects of e-cigarettes demonstrate an unfavorable effect on the fertility of women, the health effects on a fetus are under continuous research as more pregnant mothers turn toward e-cigarettes as a presumed safer alternative for regular cigarettes. The article “Epigenetic Impacts of Maternal Tobacco and E-Vapour Exposure On The Offspring Lung” illuminates the experimental procedures taken to come to the conclusion that fetus exposed to harmful chemicals from e-cigarettes in the course of their development can alter healthy lung development. Alterations of such occur during the formation of true alveoli and maturation of Type II epithelial cells and increase the child’s risks of being more vulnerable to other respiratory diseases. Studies referenced within this article confirm the ability of nicotine to cross the placenta in utero, effecting the fetus both until and after birth as they are continuously exposed to nicotine through breast milk and environmental smoke. Epigenetic aberrations in offspring due to maternal use of smoke was another prominent concern in this experiment, demonstrating increasing DNA methylation in offspring, regardless of the presence of nicotine in e-cigarette substances used. The effects of epigenetic aberrations not only remain with the offspring that has been exposed to the maternal use of tobacco, but persist across subsequent generations as the alteration of the genome of the offspring is preserved through generations, regardless of the offspring’s smoking habits during adulthood.
While the use of e-cigarettes continues to be a stubborn trend for both educated and uneducated crowds of individuals, developing research illuminates the damaging effects of vaping not only on an individual’s lungs, but on their reproductive system as well. Research conducted towards men’s reproductive system demonstrate a decrease in sperm vitality and morphological abnormities in mature sperm, while research deviated toward the female reproductive system demonstrate a time delay in embryo attachment, decrease in number of offspring, and genomic alterations in offspring. Though vaping is a trend pursued by both the young and old, society must take into consideration how an unhealthy habit could result in not only a society with deteriorating health, but an increase in infertile individuals who may struggle to start a family. Taking a stand against vaping now is a step toward a healthier future for you and family you may hope to start one day.
References:
1. E-cigarettes: Facts, Stats and Regulations. Truth Initiative. https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/emerging-tobacco-products/e-cigarettes-facts-stats-and-regulations
2. “Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 25, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html.
3. Rahali D, Jrad-Lamine A, Dallagi Y, Bdiri Y, Ba N, El May M, El Fazaa S, El Golli N. Semen Parameter Alteration, Histological Changes and Role of Oxidative Stress in Adult Rat Epididymis on Exposure to Electronic Cigarette Refill Liquid. The Chinese Journal of Physiology. 2018 Apr 30. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29526076
4. Raven, Kathleen. “Teen Vaping Linked to More Health Risks.” Yale Medicine, December 18, 2019. https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/teen-vaping/.
5. Schaeffer K. Before Recent Outbreak, Vaping Was On the Rise in U.S., Especially Among Young People. Pew Research Center. 2019 Sep 26. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/26/vaping-survey-data-roundup/
6. Wetendorf M, Randall LT, Lemma MT, Hurr SH, Pawlak JB, Tarran R, Doerschuk CM, Caron KM. E-Cigarette Exposure Delays Implantation and Causes Reduced Weight Gain in Female Offspring Exposed In Utero. Journal of the Endocrine Society. 2019 Sep 5 [accessed 2020 Mar 28]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31598571
7. Zakarya R, Adcock I, Oliver BG. Epigenetic impacts of maternal tobacco and e-vapour exposure on the offspring lung. Clinical epigenetics. 2019 Feb 19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6381655/
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