Investigating exposure to toxicants from smoking and vaping
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating exposure to toxicants from smoking and vaping in people using mental health services, a longitudinal study
IRAS ID
314314
Contact name
Deborah Robson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Many people who smoke use vaping products to help them quit smoking. Levels of toxicants(toxic substances) in urine samples are substantially lower in those who exclusively vape compared to those who smoke, suggesting that vaping poses only a fraction of the harms as smoking. However, vaping is not risk free, with some studies finding higher levels of some toxicants among vapers compared to those who do not smoke or vape.
People with mental health conditions have different smoking patterns compared with the wider general population, but it is not clear if this group have different vaping pattens, therefore we do not know if they are exposed to different levels of vaping related toxicants. One of these toxicants - polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can reduce the effectiveness of psychotropic medication and management of symptoms. Vaping exposes people to lower levels of PAHs than smoking, however it is unknown if the levels of PAHs from vaping affect the metabolisation of psychotropic medicines.We aim to investigate the differences in levels of tobacco related toxicants, biomarkers of potential harm (e.g signs of inflammation) and clozapine metabolism among people who use community mental health services, who vape compared to those who smoke, dual use (do both), or do not vape or smoke, over time.
Participants are eligible if they either 1) vape 2) smoke 3) vape and smoke or 4) do not vape or smoke and will be recruited from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) community mental health services, starting with clozapine clinics.
Participants will fill in a questionnaire about their smoking and vaping behaviours and provide blood and urine samples at baseline and six months later. Urine will be analysed for tobacco toxicants. Blood will be analysed for clozapine and other prescribed antipsychotic medication.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0108
Date of REC Opinion
5 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion