Exposure to E-cigarette Aerosols in Real-life Conditions

Aims: The main objective of this study is to investigate in real-life conditions passive exposure to aerosols from the use of e-cigarettes among people who cohabit with e-cigarette users. A secondary objective is to investigate passive exposure to emissions from the use of conventional cigarettes and heated tobacco products among people who cohabit with users of these tobacco products.

Study design

This is an observational study conducted in four types of households:

1. Homes with one exclusive e-cigarette user and at least one non-user (non-smoker), and no other users of any type of tobacco products. In these homes, one non-user and one user will be included in the study as participants ("type A" homes).
2. Homes with one exclusive heated tobacco product (HTP) user and at least one non-user (non-smoker), and no other users of any type of tobacco products or e-cigarettes. In these homes, one non-user and one user will be included in the study as participants ("type B" homes).
3. Homes with one exclusive manufactured cigarette smoker (not roll-your-own) and at least one non-smoker, and no other users of any type of tobacco products or e-cigarettes. In these homes, one non-smoker and one smoker will be included in the study as participants ("type C" homes).
4. Homes where no one uses e-cigarettes or consumes any other type of tobacco products (smoke-free homes). In these homes, one adult volunteer will be included in the study as a participant ("type D" homes).

The study will be conducted in 4 countries: Greece (Athens), Italy (Milan), Spain (Barcelona) and the UK (Edinburgh).

Passive exposure to e-cigarette aerosols will be assessed by measuring particulate matter (PM2.5) and airborne nicotine in the main room of homes during 7 days. Participants' saliva samples will be collected for nicotine and cotinine assessment. In addition, participants will be asked to fill in a personal diary about the use of e-cigarettes, second-hand exposure to e-cigarette aerosols (SHA) and exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) produced by the use of conventional cigarettes.

Fieldwork

Once in the participants' home:

1. After checking the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the participants will be re-informed (information was provided when contacting for the first time the participants) about the study (information sheet for participants) and will be asked to provide their informed written consent. They will be also informed about a reward for their participation after finishing the study (gift card to be used in a local cultural store with value of 15€).
2. Measurement of nicotine using active sampling will be initiated, lasting 30 min and record of smoking/use pattern if applicable using the home dossier.
3. The researcher will install the monitor with a filter for nicotine sampling that will be left at homes of the participants during the week of the study.
4. The researcher will administer to the participant the questionnaire about usual exposure to SHS and SHA (for all participants) and about consumption practices and habits (for users).
5. The participants will be instructed about the completion of the diary card that will be used to collect daily information about exposure to SHS and SHA (for all participants) and about patterns of smoking, e-cigarette or HTP use.
6. The first saliva sample will be collected under the supervision of the researcher.
7. AirVisual, an optical PM2.5 monitoring device, will be installed in the main room of the home. The participants will be instructed about its functioning and contact details for any questions will be provided in participant information leaflet.
8. The container for urine sample to be collected at the second visit after one week of the study with instructions on the procedures will be provided to the participants.
9. The participants will be informed that:

• the researchers will be available for any queries during the study period and a contact phone number will be provided;
• reminders to fill in the diary card will be sent via emails (SMS or the system chosen by the participant) every day; and
• the researchers will make a follow-up telephone call during the study period

1. The researcher should inform about the day when the second visit should be done (after 7 days of the study) and confirm the time with the participants During the consequent 7 days

During 7 days of the study

The researcher will:

• call the participant to check the progress and resolve any queries, at the day 3 or 4 of the study.
• send a text message (SMS or other system) daily to remind to fill in the diary card
• send a text message in the morning of the day of the second visit to remind about urine sample collection

The participants will:

• fill in the diary card to record any exposure to SHA and/or SHS at home and other settings (for all participants) and e-cigarette, HTP use or smoking pattern (for e-cigarette, HTP users and smokers).

Second visit (7 days after first visit)

In the participants' homes, the researchers will:

• measure airborne nicotine with active sampling for 30 minutes (2nd measurement)
• review the diary cards with the participant(s) and collect them
• collect the AirVisual device and passive nicotine sampler
• collect a second saliva sample
• ask to the participant(s) for sample of e-liquid used (for e-cigarette users)
• collect the urine sample prepared by the participants (if applies)
• give the gift card to participants and ask them to sign the receipt form
• acknowledge the participation and remind that the feedback with the results of the study will be sent to them in approximately 6 months.

Data Management: All data from questionnaires, environmental measurements and saliva analysis will be managed by researchers from Tobacco Control Unit (UCT) of the Catalan Institute of Oncology.

Data will be collected in paper and will be digitalised in a protected database. All the samples (environmental, biological, and e-cigarette liquid) will have a unique code to be linked with the already anonymized data from the questionnaires, and this data will be stored in the same database. Only a selected number of pre-designated members of the research team (who will sign a confidentiality document) will have access to the database and the freezer. All data will be stored into a single database.

Selected personal data, including the names of respondents, will be collected separately to enable quality assurance procedures and to allow participants' willing to withdraw from participation in the study to have their records deleted from the database. This information will remain dissociated from the specific information generated in the experiments.

During the quality assurance procedures, Dr Esteve Fernández will obtain an anonymised copy of the database. The database will be held securely on a password protected file server at ICO. Dr Fernández will designate a limited number of researchers from UCT team or the consortium to access this database.

Access to personal data and withdrawal from the study: It will be made clear in the information (provided orally and in the information sheet) that the subjects are completely free to withdraw their records from participation in the study, regardless having had a gift compensation for their participation.

The consent given by participants in the project can be withdrawn at any time, without any explanation or justification. In this case, all data pertaining to the subjects will be destroyed, both in paper and digital supports.

At the end of the study, participants will receive the results from the environmental and biological measurements conducted as well as the overall results obtained for the entire study subjects. Summary data related to the entire project will be publicly disseminated once it has been processed and protected, without data that allow individual identification of participants. These summary results will be accessed through the project website or through publications related to this project.

Human cells/tissues: Biological samples (saliva and urine) will be collected after obtaining informed consent, in which it will be specified that these samples will be used only for the study aims, this is, the measurement of nicotine, cotinine and other metabolites of nicotine, metals and other markers of exposure to aerosols from e-cigarettes, but not for the use of the cells or genetic material also contained in the saliva. The remaining saliva and urine will be stored at the certified biobank (at ICO) and can be used for future determinations of compounds from cigarettes and e-cigarettes related with the objectives of this study.

Privacy and confidentiality: All personal information will be treated as confidential and will be stored in agreement with the current laws. The study will be conducted in accordance with the Good Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and the current legal regulation about confidentiality of data in the European Union (Regulation EU 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council).

Environmental protection and safety: This study will require some exposure from the participants; however, this exposure will be the usual one and the participants will not be forced to any additional exposure given the observational nature of the study conducted. They will record the usual exposures without any intervention from the research team. Similarly, the researchers can be also exposed to emissions from tobacco products, but the total time of potential exposure is out of the range of potential health hazards produced by these exposures. All the researchers have been informed and have signed a written consent about their participation.

Incidental findings: In case that while reviewing the results from the chemical analysis of nicotine metabolites in saliva any unexpected abnormality is observed (what is called an "incidental finding"), the investigators will let the participant know. Depending on the type of incidental finding, the participant will be contacted by mail or by phone. The participant does not have an option to decline information about an incidental finding. The costs for any care that will be needed to diagnose or treat an incidental finding would not be paid for the research study. These costs would be the responsibility of the participant.