One of the unintended adverse consequences of nanotechnology in general, is that by making a substance substantially smaller in size than would occur naturally, the substance may exhibit significantly higher toxicity when in nano- particle form.
Contrary to the older risk modelling, less is actually more! By reducing a particle’s size, the technology has now made that substance capable of invading the body’s natural defences more easily, by passing through pores in the skin or mucus membranes, whilst evading immune and detoxification mechanisms which evolved millions of years before nanotechnology.
For example, when nickel particles are reduced in size to the nanometer range (one billionth of a meter wide), they may actually become more toxic to the immune system. These particles are now capable of direct molecular interaction with oestrogen receptors in the body, disrupting their normal structure and function.
Moreover, breathing these particles into the lungs, along with other metals, ethylene glycol and nicotine, produces a chemical concoction showing synergistic toxicity. That means the toxicity of the whole is higher than the sum of their parts.
These sorts of “chemical soups” are exceedingly difficult to study, because they present a complex model we aren’t equipped to handle.
Nevertheless, it is likely that when taken together, the harm done by e-cigarettes is significant, and will manifest only after chronic use when identifying singular causes of disease is nearly impossible.
Regulators will have a hard time therefore identifying a “smoking gun”, even after a broad range of health issues do emerge in exposed populations.
Ultimately, finding a less harmful alternative to tobacco smoking is justified, but let the buyer and user beware, because these products are not without possible harm as some marketers falsely advertise.
Leave a Reply