VOCs Testing Services

Huntington Beach, California, July 11, 2025

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health warns that electronic smoking devices (ESDs) release aerosols that contain emissions that may include nicotine, heavy metals, glycols, and other harmful compounds. They go on to advise that this could be a health concern for both users and those exposed to secondhand aerosols.

E-cigarettes work by producing an aerosol when a liquid is heated that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. While e-cigarette users inhale this aerosol, people nearby do as well when the user exhales. These aerosols can have a significant impact on a building’s indoor air quality (IAQ) if used indoors or near air intakes or entryways.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigarette aerosols may contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including:

• Nicotine
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
• Cancer-causing chemicals
• Heavy metals such as lead, tin, and nickel
• Flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease

“Secondhand e-cigarette aerosols have been found to contain at least ten chemicals that are on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm, warns the California Department of Public Health,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “When these devices are used in the built environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cautions that some of the chemicals released can remain indoors for a long time, even after a person stops vaping or smoking. These chemicals can build up on hard surfaces such as walls and tables, and embed in soft surfaces like clothing and carpets. In some cases, these chemicals can be released back into the air, leading to possible thirdhand exposure.” 

Californians concerned about possible exposure to nicotine, particulate matter (PM), metals, VOCs, and other chemicals from e-cigarettes or environmental tobacco smoke can turn to LA Testing for answers. Their environmental testing specialists provide laboratory services, sampling supplies, and test kits for these and other respiratory hazards and surface contaminants. LA Testing also offers air monitoring instruments to detect PM and other airborne pollutants. They have even sponsored an educational video about secondhand e-cigarette aerosols and indoor air quality that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/XPuMI_5UBQ4

To learn more about this or other IAQ, environmental, health, or safety testing resources, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com, or call (800) 755-1794. For access to test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

 

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.