Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental MedicineEVape helps to improve safety for e-cigarette consumers
Fraunhofer researchers and engineers have developed the EVape prototype for controlled vaporization of e-liquids, allowing them to analyze the resulting emissions and subsequently perform precise toxicological evaluations. Although e-cigarettes are considered to be less harmful than conventional cigarettes, the vaporization of e-liquids can result in the formation of compounds that cause health problems. The risk is particularly strong when the e-cigarettes contain substances that do not pose problems when consumed orally or inhaled, but that break down into other dangerously toxic substances when they are heated.
When submitting the notification regarding their liquids, manufacturers need to provide the relevant toxicology and emission data; however, as this data is generated using different commercially available e-cigarettes that have diverse temperature profiles, the results are not universally valid or comparable. EVape solves this issue by conducting vaporization under controlled conditions across a wide range of temperatures, which means the results are independent of the e-cigarette used. This ensures greater safety for consumers and can support regulatory authorities with monitoring the e-cigarette liquids sold on the market. The prototype has been patented and will be available to laboratories, regulatory authorities and industry companies in the future.
