E-Cigs in Malaysia: Diacetyl Exceeds by 2 Times, Heavy Metal Levels Meet Chinese Standards

Special Statement:
1. The products mentioned in the article are samples randomly purchased by 2FIRSTS in the Kuala Lumpur market of Malaysia. The test results only represent information about the sampled products.
2. Due to the inability to verify the authenticity of the products, descriptions of the sampled products in the article do not represent an evaluation of the related brands.
3. 2FIRSTS has recorded the entire process of sample purchase and testing through video and photos. If the brand has doubts about the authenticity of the products, please contact 2FIRSTS, and we will provide further information to help the brand verify the authenticity.
4. The testing expenses for this investigation are fully borne by 2FIRSTS independently and have not received any sponsorship from any third-party companies.
5. This article is for industry research purposes only and does not endorse any specific products or brands.
6. Minors are advised not to access this information.

At the end of 2023, an informant revealed to 2FIRSTS that some milk-flavored e-cigarette products in the Southeast Asian market were found to contain excessive amounts of 2,3-diacetyl (hereinafter referred to as "diacetyl"). Diacetyl has been repeatedly confirmed by multiple institutions since 2004 to be closely related to "popcorn lung," an irreversible lung injury. Meanwhile, the list of "additives allowed for use in aerosols" in China's new national standard does not include diacetyl.

To confirm the authenticity of this claim, 2FIRSTS staff personally went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on December 10 for on-site investigation and purchased 8 sets of samples. To clarify the correlation between diacetyl and milk flavor, six sets of products were milk-flavored e-cigarettes, while the other two sets were fruit-flavored e-cigarettes. 2FIRSTS sealed and numbered the purchased samples, and sent them to the third-party testing company, Guangzhou China Inspection Technology Service Co., Ltd. After testing, it was found that some products did have quality issues. One set of products exceeded the diacetyl content by 2 times, and multiple sets of products detected heavy metals.

Test Result 1: 1 Set of Products with Diacetyl Exceeding 2 Times

The test report results for diacetyl and heavy metals in the 8 sets of products are as follows:

A total of 1 set of products (the second set) was found to contain diacetyl, with a content of 65 mg/kg, nearly three times the new national standard limit (22 mg/kg).

Test Result 2: Multiple Products Detected with Heavy Metals and Arsenic

A total of 5 sets of products (the 3rd, 6th, 5th, 2nd, and 4th sets) were found to contain arsenic, with levels within the new national standard limits.

Diacetyl: Regulations and Hazards

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States Department of Labor, diacetyl is a chemical used to enhance the buttery flavor of various products. It was commonly found in the production of popcorn, candies, and other foods, and it also naturally occurred as a byproduct in some alcoholic beverages. The European Union took the lead in regulating the use of this substance in 1999. Both the United Kingdom (2016) and China (2022) have enacted relevant regulations explicitly prohibiting the use of diacetyl as an additive in e-cigarette products. However, there is no specific and publicly available regulation in several Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, regarding the use of diacetyl.

As of October 1, 2022, the mandatory national standard for e-cigarettes in China does not include diacetyl in the "permitted additives and maximum usage" section. Still, the standard specifies a limit of 22mg/kg for "2,3-butanedione" in the "requirements for impurities and contaminants in aerosols" appendix.

2FIRSTS has learned from testing agencies that Malaysia does not have specific regulations for e-liquids containing nicotine. The country's restrictions on e-cigarettes primarily focus on the devices themselves. However, according to Article 33 of the "Regulations on the Management of e-cigarettes" issued by the National Tobacco Administration on March 11, 2022, it stipulates that e-cigarette products not sold within China and intended solely for export must comply with the legal regulations and standards of the destination country or region. In cases where the destination country or region does not have relevant laws, regulations, and standards, the products should comply with the legal regulations and standards of China.

In accordance with the spirit of the mentioned document, disposable e-cigarettes manufactured in China and sold in Malaysia should adhere to the mandatory national standards for e-cigarettes in China.

2FIRSTS conducted an interview with Dr. Sharfa Ezat Wan Puteh, a Malaysian lung disease expert. Dr. Puteh is currently a lecturer in the Department of Community Medicine at the National University of Malaysia Medical College, with extensive research experience in public health policy and health economics.

Dr. Puteh informed 2FIRSTS that she has heard about the practice of adding diacetyl to e-cigarette e-liquids. Diacetyl is safe when ingested orally. However, if inhaled through smoking, it may cause lung damage and scarring. "The harm it (diacetyl) causes to the lungs and the entire respiratory system is irreversible."

When asked about the amount of diacetyl that could harm the human body, Dr. Puteh stated that inhaling diacetyl is absolutely harmful, and there is no such thing as a "safe dose." She emphasized that while workers in popcorn factories who developed illness were exposed to the substance for extended periods at close range, e-cigarette users engage in direct inhalation through the mouth and nose, making their exposure comparable.

2FIRSTS has sent interview letters to the mentioned brands but has not received responses as of the publication deadline.

Sample Procurement Process

The research involved visits to over twenty stores, and ultimately, 2FIRSTS randomly purchased eight e-cigarettes from six local market-leading brands in six stores. These products were labeled with the names VOLTBAR, ELFBAR LOWIT, WAKA, VUSE, Aladdin, and VapeTape. To clarify the correlation between diacetyl and creamy flavor, six out of the eight products were creamy-flavored e-cigarettes, and the remaining two were fruity-flavored. To meet the minimum e-liquid volume for ingredient testing (30ml), 3-4 units of each product were purchased. After procurement, 2FIRSTS immediately sealed and labeled the purchased samples, which were then sent to the third-party testing company, Guangzhou Research Center for Testing and Certification Technology Services (Guangzhou).

About the purchased e-liquid testing results, 2FIRSTS will continue to release relevant reports, please stay tuned.