Editing Humectant (section)

===Tobacco products===
{{cleanup |reason=Needs rewrite to untangle cigarettes vs. e-cigs (see talk page) |date=December 2019}}
Humectants are used in the manufacturing of some [[tobacco]] products, such as [[cigarettes]], [[e-cigarettes]], and self-rolled tobacco. They are used to control and maintain the moisture content of the cut tobacco filler and add flavor. Humectants are vital to the creation of cigarettes.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Heck D. |author2=Gaworski C. |author3=Rajendran N. |author4=Morrissey R. | year = 2002 | title = Toxicologic Evaluation of Humectants Added To Cigarette Tobacco: 13-Week Smoke Inhalation Study | journal = Inhalation Toxicology | volume = 14 | issue = 11| pages = 1135–1152 | doi = 10.1080/08958370290084827 |pmid=12454795 |s2cid=25700504 }}</ref> In an examination of waterpipe smoking, researchers worked to identify substances such as [[formaldehyde]], [[acetaldehyde]], and [[acrolein]] in the smoke of a waterpipe, discovering that the value of formaldehyde detected in one smoking session was five times higher than that of a regular cigarette. This data demonstrated that increasing amounts of humectants in the unburned tobacco lowered the temperature in the waterpipe head during smoking, so that considerable amounts of toxic substances were present. Further, e-cigarettes produce aerosol by heating a humectant containing nicotine without burning tobacco. Those "vaping" then inhale the aerosol and receive nicotine.<ref>[http://www.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/ub/citation/22707202/Waterpipe_smoking:_the_role_of_humectants_in_the_release_of_toxic_carbonyls_ Schubert, J. Waterpipe smoking: the role of humectants in the release of toxic carbonyls. ''Archives of Toxicology'', 86, 1309–1316]</ref>

The main health concern regarding e-cigarettes is that their production is not regulated, and there is immense uncertainty of quality control during manufacturing. Self-rolled tobacco contains more humectants, which are added to tobacco to improve taste and keep from drying out. As the humectants burn, they release chemicals such as acrolein. Humectants are found in most cigarettes and are considered one of the most dangerous chemicals found in tobacco.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.smokefreeoxfordshire.nhs.uk/why-stop-smoking/smoking-its-dangers/roll-ups/ |title=Roll-ups. 2012, January 1. Retrieved May 11, 2014 |access-date=June 9, 2014 |archive-date=August 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831150024/http://www.smokefreeoxfordshire.nhs.uk/why-stop-smoking/smoking-its-dangers/roll-ups/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

However, there have been conflicting claims about the degree to which these products warrant a health concern. In a literary study of e-cigarette health risks, 388 different symptoms were reported; mouth and throat concerns generated more negative symptoms than any other group.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Health-Related Effects Reported by Electronic Cigarette Users in Online Forums|first1=My|last1=Hua|first2=Mina|last2=Alfi|first3=Prue|last3=Talbot|date=1 January 2013|volume=15|issue=4|doi=10.2196/jmir.2324|pmid=23567935|pmc=3636314|journal=Journal of Medical Internet Research|pages=e59 |doi-access=free }}</ref> There are not enough studies or sufficient evidence to suggest that products, particularly the contaminants of the aerosol in e-cigarettes, produce health risks at a concerning level. More research is currently being conducted to find the true dangers of the use of humectants in cigarettes.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Burstyn  | year = 2014 | title = Peering through the mist: systematic review of what the chemistry of contaminants in electronic cigarettes tells us about health risks | journal = BMC Public Health | volume = 14 | page = 18 | pmc=3937158 | pmid=24406205 | doi=10.1186/1471-2458-14-18 | doi-access = free }}</ref>