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BfR Warns Cooling Agents in E‑Cigarette Liquids Pose Organ Risks

The institute bases its advisory on oral animal studies with surrogate data, leaving inhalation effects—especially on the lungs—uncertain.

Overview

  • The German risk authority reports that all tested cooling agents could damage the liver and kidneys, urging consumers to avoid these additives in e‑liquids.
  • Long‑term health risks are estimated at moderate use of about 5 milliliters per day, with potential harm at roughly 1 milliliter per day for WS‑12, Frescolat MGA, and menthyllactate.
  • The assessment examined nine substances, including menthol, menthyl acetate, and eucalyptol.
  • Because public inhalation data are scarce, the BfR relied on NOAEL values from oral animal studies, leaving lung‑specific hazards unresolved.
  • No regulatory safety limits exist for cooling agents in e‑liquids, and many products contain mixtures of several such chemicals, heightening cumulative exposure concerns.