PITTSBURGH — A paper published Tuesday in the journal Respiratory Research adds to a growing body of research that shows menthol flavoring added to electronic cigarette liquid worsens lung damage. The study represents the first time, to the authors' knowledge, that these effects have been seen with aerosolized menthol vapor.
Menthol is added to many products, such as chewing gum and pain patches. But researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, who ran a series of experiments using a "vaping robot," found when it is added to e-liquid, it increases the number of particles inhaled into the lungs.
Previous research has found that particle inhalation is not incidental. Fine particles can get caught in the respiratory tract and lung tissue, leading to inflammation, constriction of the bronchioles and reduced lung function.
