Brown Christopher J, Cheng James M
Center for Tobacco Products, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, , Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Tob Control. 2014 May;23 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):ii4-10. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2013-051476.
To review the available evidence regarding electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) product characterisation and design features in order to understand their potential impact on individual users and on public health.
Systematic literature searches in 10 reference databases were conducted through October 2013. A total of 14 articles and documents and 16 patents were included in this analysis.
Numerous disposable and reusable e-cigarette product options exist, representing wide variation in product configuration and component functionality. Common e-cigarette components include an aerosol generator, a flow sensor, a battery and a nicotine-containing solution storage area. e-cigarettes currently include many interchangeable parts, enabling users to modify the character of the delivered aerosol and, therefore, the product's 'effectiveness' as a nicotine delivery product. Materials in e-cigarettes may include metals, rubber and ceramics. Some materials may be aerosolised and have adverse health effects. Several studies have described significant performance variability across and within e-cigarette brands. Patent applications include novel product features designed to influence aerosol properties and e-cigarette efficiency at delivering nicotine.
Although e-cigarettes share a basic design, engineering variations and user modifications result in differences in nicotine delivery and potential product risks. e-cigarette aerosols may include harmful and potentially harmful constituents. Battery explosions and the risks of exposure to the e-liquid (especially for children) are also concerns. Additional research will enhance the current understanding of basic e-cigarette design and operation, aerosol production and processing, and functionality. A standardised e-cigarette testing regime should be developed to allow product comparisons.
回顾关于电子烟产品特性及设计特点的现有证据，以了解其对个体使用者及公众健康的潜在影响。
截至2013年10月，在10个参考文献数据库中进行了系统的文献检索。本分析共纳入14篇文章、文献及16项专利。
存在众多一次性和可重复使用的电子烟产品选项，产品配置和部件功能差异很大。常见的电子烟部件包括气雾生成器、流量传感器、电池和含尼古丁溶液储存区。目前电子烟包含许多可互换部件，使使用者能够改变所产生气雾的特性，从而改变产品作为尼古丁递送产品的“有效性”。电子烟中的材料可能包括金属、橡胶和陶瓷。一些材料可能会雾化并对健康产生不良影响。几项研究描述了不同电子烟品牌之间以及同一品牌内部显著的性能差异。专利申请包括旨在影响气雾特性及电子烟递送尼古丁效率的新颖产品特点。
尽管电子烟有基本的设计，但工程差异和使用者的改装导致尼古丁递送及潜在产品风险存在差异。电子烟气雾可能包含有害及潜在有害成分。电池爆炸以及接触电子烟液的风险（尤其是对儿童而言）也令人担忧。更多研究将增进目前对电子烟基本设计与操作、气雾产生与处理以及功能的理解。应制定标准化的电子烟测试方案以实现产品比较。
