Investigation of some metal levels in people using electronic cigarettes and IQOS

This study investigated metal exposure profiles by comparing urinary metal concentrations across different groups of tobacco product users (cigarette smokers, IQOS users, and e-cigarette users). The findings revealed that lead and cadmium levels were significantly higher in cigarette smokers compared to nonsmokers. In contrast, elevated nickel concentrations were notably observed among IQOS and e-cigarette users. Variations in zinc and selenium levels appeared to be more attributable to physiological or external factors rather than product use. Overall, the results suggest that both conventional and novel tobacco products may pose potential toxicological risks related to metal exposure among users. However, the observed metal concentrations generally fell below established regulatory thresholds.