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Title: A custom-built low-cost chamber for exposing rodents to e-cigarette aerosol: practical considerations.

Authors: Hilpert, Markus; Ilievski, Vesna; Coady, Maxine; Andrade-Gutierrez, Maria; Yan, Beizhan; Chillrud, Steven N; Navas-Acien, Ana; Kleiman, Norman J

Published In Inhal Toxicol, (2019 Sep - Oct)

Abstract: Objectives: To (1) design and build a low-cost exposure chamber system for whole-body exposure of rodents to electronic cigarette aerosol, (2) provide detailed instructions with particular focus on automated e-cigarette activation, and (3) develop a simple mathematical model for aerosol levels in the exposure chamber.Methods: We built the system with standard laboratory equipment and an open-source electronics platform (Arduino) for e-cigarette activation. Arduino is used to control a solenoid, which pushes the activation button of so-called "Mod" e-cigarettes, and a pump to move the aerosol from the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette into the chamber. For "Pods" and "Cigalikes," the solenoid is not used as they are activated by the vacuum created by the pump. Aerosol concentrations were measured with a light-scattering laser photometer.Results: The system allows varying the air exchange rate, monitoring aerosol levels, and programing arbitrary puff topography. Aerosol concentrations observed for different chamber operating conditions (puff time and period, e-cigarette power output, air exchange rate) were consistent with the mathematical model.Conclusions: Our low-cost exposure chamber can be used in animal experimental studies of the health effects of e-cigarettes. Our model allows estimating design parameters such as chamber volume, air exchange rate, and puff period.

PubMed ID: 31797690 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Administration, Inhalation*; Aerosols*; Animals; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems*; Equipment Design*; Nicotine/administration & dosage*; Nicotine/adverse effects*; Rodentia

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