Meg Oberer

While much research has been completed in regards to the negative health effects of cigarettes, scientists have not looked into vaporizers, forms of electronic cigarettes, in great detail. The objective of this study is to look into the negative health effects of vaporizers. The two aims of this study are to analyze the mutation rate and lactate dehydrogenase concentration of cell exposed to electronic cigarette vapor. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a compound that converts one substance to a new product in the cell reproduction cycle and is found in abnormally high concentrations in cancer cells.  I hypothesize that electronic cigarette vapor will cause an increase the rate of which cells mutate from their original structure over time (mutation rate). To test this, I will be completing an Ames test, which is a simple test that uses the reproduction of bacteria to display mutation rate. In addition, I hypothesize that LDH concentration is highest in cigarette-exposed cells followed by vaporizer juice-exposed cells.  To test this, I plan on using a concentration analysis kit purchased from a biotechnology company that will allow me to analyze the LDH concentration based on light absorbance. This study will provide important information about the potential cancer-causing capability of vaporizers.