My thesis
Young people in Canada have among the highest e-cigarette vaping rates globally. Despite growing concerns about the long-term health effects of vaping, objective data on exposure to nicotine and harmful constituents remain limited. Biomarkers of exposure (BOEs), measured in urine and blood, provide objective indicators of nicotine and toxicant exposure and are linked to long-term disease risk. BOEs can be used to assess exposure among people who vape and among those exposed to ‘second-hand vapour’, for which there is virtually no population-level data.
My thesis will broadly look will generate novel estimates of exposure to nicotine and toxic constituents from vaping by: 1) examining the relationship between second-hand smoke/vapour and nicotine biomarkers among adolescents (aged 12 to 19) who do not use nicotine; 2) to assessing the association between smoking and vaping status and nicotine biomarker levels among the general Canadian population; and 3) to examining trends in exposure to tobacco-specific lung carcinogens and heavy metals among Canadians who smoke and/or vape. My thesis findings have the potential to advance our understanding of the potential risks of vaping, including comparisons with smoking and exposure from ‘second hand’ vaping, and to inform nicotine policy more broadly.
My time in the School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS)
During my three years of graduate studies at the University of Waterloo (UW), I’ve had many opportunities to engage with the university and the broader research community. I currently serve in three executive student roles at UW: Vice President of Finance for the School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS) Graduate Student Association, Lead Abstract Review Coordinator for the SPHS Conference, and, lastly, the SPHS Student Faculty Representative.
Also, as a trainee on a CIHR-funded Lung Health Teams grant, I am contributing to a longitudinal study examining the health impacts of vaping among 1,000 young people. Through this project, I am gaining experience in collecting and assessing biomarkers of exposure under the guidance of global experts.
A highlight of my training has been presenting my research at several national and international conferences, including conferences in London (England), Edinburgh (Scotland), and New Orleans (United States). I am deeply grateful for the mentorship and training I’ve received throughout my graduate studies.
Read more about Makenna’s research
Gomes, MN., Reid, JL., Taylor, EV., Edwards, R., O’Connor, RJ., Hyland, R., Hammond, D. E-cigarette consumption among youth who vape in Canada, England, New Zealand and the USA: Exploring methods to quantify consumption amounts and differences by product attributes using population-level surveys. Tobacco Control. Published online 2025:tc-2024-059245. doi:10.1136/tc-2024-059245
Gomes, MN., Reid, JL., Rynard, VL., East, KA., Goniewicz, ML., Piper, ME., Hammond, D. Comparison of indicators of dependence for vaping and smoking: Trends between 2017 and 2022 among youth in Canada, England and the United States. Nicotine & tobacco research. 2024;26(9):1192-1200. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntae060
Gomes, MN., Reid, JL., Hammond, D. The effect of branded versus standardized e-cigarette packaging and device designs: an experimental study of youth interest in vaping products. Public health. 2024;230:223-230. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2024.02.001