# Electronic cigarette use inside of vehicles and associated secondhand and thirdhand exposures

> **NIH NIH R15** · EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $439,844

## Abstract

Project Summary
Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) are a diverse class of products that use an electric heater to aerosolize a liquid
often containing propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine, and chemical flavorants. While the aerosol
generated from ECIG use contains lower concentrations of some chemicals found in cigarette smoke, research
has demonstrated that ECIG aerosol contains harmful irritants and toxicants including propylene glycol,
vegetable glycerin, nicotine, volatile organic chemicals, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, furans,
chloropropanols, and tobacco specific nitrosamines. Despite the presence of these compounds in ECIG
aerosol, many ECIG users perceive that ECIG use is associated with low harm. As a result, indoor ECIG use
around non-ECIG users, including ECIG use inside of vehicles, is common. Research has demonstrated that
indoor ECIG use can result in secondhand and thirdhand exposure to chemicals present in ECIG aerosol, but
research has yet to examine ECIG use inside of vehicles and if use in this small space results in increased
exposures to ECIG generated chemicals. The specific aims of this project are to 1) examine self-reported
ECIG use behaviors and perceptions regarding ECIG use inside of vehicles, 2) measure concentrations of
chemicals deposited on interior surfaces inside of ECIG users’ vehicles who report ECIG use in their vehicles,
and 3) measure particulate matter concentrations inside of ECIG users’ vehicles during active ECIG use. This
study will use online survey methods to examine ECIG use behaviors inside of vehicles (e.g., prevalence of
ECIG use in vehicles, ECIG use with others in the vehicle, ECIG use with windows up/down, etc.) in a sample
of adult current ECIG users. Additionally, ECIG users who report ECIG use inside their vehicles will present for
an in person visit with their vehicles. Participants will include users of “pod mod” ECIG devices and “third
generation” ECIG devices as well as controls (i.e., non-ECIG users with vehicles where no ECIG or tobacco
use occurs). Samples will be collected from the interior surfaces of ECIG users’ vehicles (and control vehicles)
and chemical analyses will detect and quantify the presence of chemicals found in ECIG aerosol. ECIG users
will then engage in active ECIG use inside of their vehicles including a 10-puff directed bout (one puff every 30
seconds) and 20 minutes where they engage in ECIG use ad libitum. During ECIG use sessions, particulate
matter concentrations will be measured inside of the vehicles. Expected results include that ECIG use inside of
vehicles will be common among ECIG users and will be associated with high concentrations of chemicals and
particulate matter inside of vehicles. These data will increase understanding of the prevalence and types of
ECIG use behaviors that occur inside of vehicles as well as the secondhand and thirdhand exposures
associated with ECIG use within vehicles by different types of ECIG devices. Successful c...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10045614
- **Project number:** 1R15ES032138-01
- **Recipient organization:** EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Eric Kendall Soule
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $439,844
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-07 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10045614

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10045614, Electronic cigarette use inside of vehicles and associated secondhand and thirdhand exposures (1R15ES032138-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10045614. Licensed CC0.

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