• Home
  • Search
  • Toxicity and Appeal of Flavoured E-Cigarettes and Flavour Ban Outcomes: A Narrative Review.
  • https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23040416Copy DOI Icon

Toxicity and Appeal of Flavoured E-Cigarettes and Flavour Ban Outcomes: A Narrative Review.

Show More
  • Abstract
  • Literature Map
  • References
  • Similar Papers
Abstract

E-cigarette use has risen sharply among young never-smokers, largely driven by the availability of several thousand appealing flavours. This narrative review synthesises evidence on the health effects of vaping, flavour toxicology and attractiveness, designs and outcomes of flavour bans, and complementary measures. Peer-reviewed publications and institutional reports (up to January 2026) were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and reference lists of included articles. Evidence from about 200 references was synthesised by a multidisciplinary working group. Although flavouring substances are generally considered safe for ingestion, their inhalation toxicity remains uncertain. In vitro and in vivo studies have reported oxidative stress, inflammation, cytotoxicity, impaired ciliary function, transcriptomic changes, genotoxicity, and DNA damage. These findings-along with the strong youth appeal of fruit/sweet flavours, the inconclusive effects of flavours on smoking cessation, and persisting uncertainties-support banning non-tobacco e-cigarette flavours under the precautionary principle. Flavour bans can reduce e-cigarette use and initiation, especially among young adults, although partial substitution towards combustible cigarettes has been reported in some U.S. states. Policy success requires effective enforcement, prevention of industry circumvention, curbing cross-border sales, and closing regulatory loopholes-ideally at the international level (e.g., EU-wide). E-cigarette flavours may increase vaping toxicity and strongly appeal to youth, justifying flavour bans to prioritise youth protection. To maximise effectiveness, accompanying measures and sustained investment in tobacco prevention, youth education, and accessible evidence-based smoking cessation support are essential.

Similar Papers
  • Research Article
  • Citations77

E-Cigarette Use and Future Cigarette Initiation Among Never Smokers and Relapse Among Former Smokers in the PATH Study.

  • Aug 16, 2019
  • Public Health Reports®
  • Robert Mcmillen +4
  • Research Article
  • Citations1

Initial Subjective Response to Nicotine Vaping Predicts Subsequent E-Cigarette Use in Early Adolescence: An ABCD Investigation

  • May 29, 2025
  • Nicotine & Tobacco Research
  • Kelly E Courtney +6
  • Research Article
  • Citations1

Why High Income Fails to Reduce E-Cigarette Use: The Knowledge-Attitude Paradox in the SMOKES Study.

  • Mar 11, 2025
  • Open journal of medical sciences
  • Shervin Assari +4
  • Research Article
  • Citations4

Association of e-Cigarette Use and Postpartum Depression: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System 2016-2019.

  • Nov 10, 2023
  • Journal of women's health (2002)
  • Briana M Choi +6
  • Research Article

Comprehensive E-Cigarette Policies Are Associated With Lower Use Among U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults.

  • Mar 24, 2026
  • Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
  • Luisa Kcomt +5
  • Research Article
  • Citations21

Associations between e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use among U.S. cancer survivors: implications for research and practice

  • Apr 01, 2019
  • Journal of Cancer Survivorship
  • Godfred O Antwi +5
  • PDF
  • Research Article
  • Citations13

Electronic cigarette use patterns and chronic health conditions among people experiencing homelessness in MN: a statewide survey

  • Dec 01, 2020
  • BMC Public Health
  • Eleanor L S Leavens +6
  • Research Article

Comparative analysis on prevalence of tobacco and e-cigarettes uses in junior middle school students in Shanghai, 2013 and 2019

  • Sep 10, 2022
  • Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi
  • Y Ding +15
  • Research Article

Identifying Salient Beliefs Underlying Young Adults’ Flavored E-Cigarette Use to Inform Campaign Development: Results from an Elicitation Survey

  • Oct 13, 2025
  • Nicotine & Tobacco Research
  • Rebekah Wicke +2
  • Research Article
  • Citations42

Flavored E-cigarette Use and Cigarette Smoking Susceptibility among Youth.

  • Jan 01, 2017
  • Tobacco Regulatory Science
  • Julia Cen Chen +3
  • Research Article
  • Citations31

Biomarkers of Exposure for Dual Use of Electronic Cigarettes and Combustible Cigarettes: Nicotelline, NNAL, and Total Nicotine Equivalents.

  • Dec 13, 2019
  • Nicotine & Tobacco Research
  • Peyton Jacob +6
  • Research Article
  • Citations4

Is E-cigarette Use Associated With Persistence or Discontinuation of Combustible Cigarettes? A 24-Month Longitudinal Investigation in Young Adult Binge Drinkers.

  • Feb 17, 2022
  • Nicotine & Tobacco Research
  • Victor Martinez-Loredo +5
  • Research Article
  • Citations55

Electronic cigarette use and sleep health in young adults.

  • Sep 04, 2019
  • Journal of sleep research
  • Emma I Brett +5
  • Research Article
  • Citations2

Trends in e-cigarette flavour use and demographic correlates among US youth from 2020 to 2023.

  • Aug 12, 2025
  • Tobacco control
  • Dayoung Bae +11
  • Research Article
  • Citations44

Associations Between E-cigarette Use and E-cigarette Flavors With Cigarette Smoking Quit Attempts and Quit Success: Evidence From a U.S. Large, Nationally Representative 2018–2019 Survey

  • Oct 17, 2022
  • Nicotine & Tobacco Research
  • Yoonseo Mok +3
Cactus Communications logo

Copyright 2026 Cactus Communications. All rights reserved.