Menthol's effects on vaping behavior and chemical exposure in e-cigarette users
The effect of menthol on ENDS users' dependence, respiratory, and toxicants emission outcomes
Menthol versus tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes will be compared in young adult users to measure changes in puffing, nicotine dependence, and exposure to harmful respiratory and cardiovascular chemicals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida International University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Miami, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11303325 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be a current e-cigarette user aged 21–35 who comes to the Miami lab for two visits. At each visit you'll use either a menthol or a tobacco-flavored prefilled pod while researchers record your puffing patterns and short-term respiratory and cardiovascular responses. Blood and breath samples will be taken to measure nicotine and toxicants like aldehydes. The crossover design means each person tries both flavors so researchers can directly compare effects within the same participant.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Current or past-month e-cigarette users aged 21–35 who can travel to Miami for two in-person lab visits are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not use e-cigarettes, are outside the 21–35 age range, pregnant, or have serious uncontrolled lung or heart disease may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could help inform FDA flavor policies to reduce youth appeal, lower addiction risk, and reduce exposure to harmful chemicals from e-cigarettes.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies show menthol can alter inhalation behavior and nicotine exposure, but large controlled crossover lab studies in young adults are limited, so this work adds important new evidence.
Where this research is happening
Miami, United States
- Florida International University — Miami, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maziak, Wasim — Florida International University
- Study coordinator: Maziak, Wasim
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.