College researcher explains dangers of e-cigarettes

Marielle Brinkman interviewed for national segment on vaping

Denise Blough
Marielle Brinkman

Senior Research Scientist Marielle Brinkman was interviewed by Discovery Education, CVS Health Foundation and CATCH Global Foundation as part of the Be Vape Free education initiative, which aims to prevent the use of e-cigarettes among elementary, middle and high school-aged children.

In the segment, Brinkman explains the toxicity of nicotine, which is also used as an insecticide, and discusses her research testing the toxins in e-cigarette smoke. Once inhaled, this smoke has been shown to transform into harsh chemicals like formaldehyde and acid aldehyde, as well as nickel, chromium and lead.

“All of these things are lung irritants that cause inflammation in the lungs,” Brinkman said. “They have the potential to cause cancer. They have the potential to cause learning deficits.”


Research also suggests that adolescents who use e-cigarettes are more likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes.   

“Bottom line — treat that e-cigarette like it’s a ticking bomb,” Brinkman said. “There are some really dire consequences to using nicotine. You end up sort of spending your lifetime chasing feeling better. Really if you’d never used nicotine in the first place, you wouldn’t feel that bad.”

The segment also includes interviews with Dr. Christy Sadreameli of Johns Hopkins University and Dr. Victor DeNoble, a former scientist for tobacco giant Phillip Morris.

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About The Ohio State University College of Public Health

The Ohio State University College of Public Health is a leader in educating students, creating new knowledge through research, and improving the livelihoods and well-being of people in Ohio and beyond.  The College's divisions include biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health behavior and health promotion, and health services management and policy.   It is ranked 22nd among all colleges of public health in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report, and also includes the top 8-ranked MHA degree program.  The college’s epidemiology specialty was ranked 19th. The College provides leadership and expertise for Ohio and the world through its Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Evaluation Studies (HOPES) and Center for Public Health Practice (CPHP).