Since their 2004 debut from China, electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) have rapidly grown in popularity as a healthier alternative to tobacco products. However, the manufacturing process of e-cigs is not standardized and research on the potential toxicity of e-cigs is limited. Previous studies have shown that e-liquids used in e-cigs contain trace amounts of contaminants, which might be harmful to human health. Tobacco use is linked to the development of bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Therefore, we are interested in whether e-cigs might also impact bone health. We hypothesize that e-liquid used in e-cigs contain components that are cytotoxic to osteoblasts. Using human osteoblast-like cell line MG-63, we exposed cells to different brands of e-liquid containing 0.01-1 mg/ml nicotine or e-liquid without nicotine. Cell viability was assessed using an MTT assay. Preliminary results suggest there are chemicals in the e-liquid, including nicotine, which can influence osteoblast cytotoxicity. This ongoing study will help elucidate the potential toxicity of e-liquids, and ultimately increase awareness for the possible risks associated with electronic cigarettes.

The Effect of E-liquid on Human Osteoblast-like MG-63 Cell Viability