A Comparison of Flavorless Electronic Cigarette-Generated Aerosol and Conventional Cigarette Smoke on the Planktonic Growth of Common Oral Commensal Streptococci

John M. Nelson, Giancarlo A. Cuadra and Dominic L. Palazzolo
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John M. Nelson: Department of Biology, School of Mathematics & Sciences, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN 37752, USA
Giancarlo A. Cuadra: Department of Biology, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA 18104, USA
Dominic L. Palazzolo: Department of Physiology, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN 37752, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-22

Abstract: Background: Smoking is the number one predictor for the development of periodontal disease. Consequently, electronic cigarette (ECIG) use has prompted investigations into the health-related risks induced by ECIG-generated aerosol on oral commensal bacteria as compared to cigarette smoke. Since E-liquid contains fewer constituents than smoke, we hypothesize that growth media containing E-liquid or aerosol has less impact on oral commensal streptococci than cigarette smoke. Methods: Eight-hour growth curves were generated for three strains of streptococci following exposure of growth media to nicotine alone (0.05, 0.1, 0.2 mg/mL), E-liquid ± nicotine (2.3, 4.7, 7.0 µL/mL), ECIG-generated aerosol ± nicotine (25, 50, 75 puffs), or cigarette smoke (2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75 puffs). Nicotine and E-liquid were added to the media at concentrations equivalent to vaporized amounts of 25, 50, or 75 puffs. Absorbance readings were taken at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h of bacterial growth. Results: Both E-liquid and aerosol (±nicotine) had little to no effect on eight-hour streptococcal growth. In contrast, five puffs of smoke inhibited streptococcal growth. Conclusions: Smoke-treated growth media, but not E-liquid or ECIG-generated aerosol, inhibits the growth of oral commensal streptococci. A possible implication is that aerosol may induce less periodontitis than smoke.

Keywords: ECIG; E-liquid; vaping; smoking; aerosol; streptococci; oral commensal bacteria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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