Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
Center for the Study of Tobacco Products, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2023 Feb 9;25(3):412-420. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntac196.
Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) heat a nicotine-containing liquid to produce an inhalable aerosol. ECIG power (wattage) and liquid nicotine concentration are two factors that predict nicotine emission rate ("flux"). These factors can vary greatly across devices and users.
The purpose of this study was to examine ECIG device and liquid heterogeneity in "real world" settings and the association with predicted nicotine flux, nicotine yield, and total particulate matter (TPM) emissions. Past 30-day ECIG users (n = 84; mean age = 23.8 years [SD = 9.6]) reported device and liquid characteristics. Device power was measured via multimeter, device display screens, or obtained via labeling. Liquid nicotine concentration was obtained via labeling or through chemical analysis. Predicted nicotine flux, nicotine yield, and TPM associated with 10 4-second puffs were calculated for participants' primary devices.
Participants' primary devices were box mods (42.9%), disposable vapes (20.2%), and pod mods (36.9%). Most participants (65.5%) reported not knowing their primary device wattage. Rebuildable/box mods had the greatest power range (11.1-120.0 W); pod mod power also varied considerably (4.1-21.7 W). Unlike device wattage, most participants (95.2%) reported knowing their liquid nicotine concentration, which ranged from 3.0 to 86.9 mg/ml (M = 36.0, SD = 29.3). Predicted nicotine flux varied greatly across products (range =12.0-160.1 μg/s, M = 85.6 μg/s, SD = 34.3). Box mods had the greatest variability in wattage and predicted nicotine flux, nicotine yield, and TPM yield.
ECIG device and liquid heterogeneity influence nicotine and other toxicant emissions. Better measurement of ECIG device and liquid characteristics is needed to understand nicotine and toxicant emissions and to inform regulatory policy.
ECIG device and liquid heterogeneity cause great variability in nicotine flux and toxicants emitted. These data demonstrate the need to examine device and liquid characteristics to develop empirically informed, health-promoting regulatory policies. Policies may include setting product standards such that ECIG products cannot (1) have nicotine fluxes much greater than that of a cigarette to decrease the risk of dependence, (2) have nicotine fluxes that are very low and thus would have minimal appeal to cigarette smokers and may serve as starter products for youth or nontobacco users, and (3) emit large amounts of particulate matter and other toxicants.
电子烟（ECIG）将含有尼古丁的液体加热以产生可吸入的气溶胶。ECIG 的功率（瓦特）和液体尼古丁浓度是预测尼古丁排放率（“通量”）的两个因素。这些因素在设备和用户之间可能有很大差异。
本研究的目的是在“真实世界”环境中检查 ECIG 设备和液体的异质性，以及与预测的尼古丁通量、尼古丁产率和总颗粒物（TPM）排放的关联。过去 30 天使用过 ECIG 的参与者（n = 84；平均年龄 = 23.8 岁[SD = 9.6]）报告了设备和液体特性。通过多用表、设备显示屏或标签测量设备功率。通过标签或化学分析获得液体尼古丁浓度。计算了参与者主要设备的 10 个 4 秒吸嘴的预测尼古丁通量、尼古丁产率和 TPM。
参与者的主要设备是盒式模块（42.9%）、一次性蒸汽电子烟（20.2%）和烟弹式模块（36.9%）。大多数参与者（65.5%）表示不知道他们的主要设备瓦数。可重建/盒式模块的功率范围最大（11.1-120.0 W）；烟弹模块的功率也有很大差异（4.1-21.7 W）。与设备瓦数不同，大多数参与者（95.2%）表示知道他们的液体尼古丁浓度，范围为 3.0 至 86.9 mg/ml（M = 36.0，SD = 29.3）。预测的尼古丁通量在产品之间差异很大（范围为 12.0-160.1 μg/s，M = 85.6 μg/s，SD = 34.3）。盒式模块在瓦数和预测的尼古丁通量、尼古丁产率和 TPM 产率方面的变化最大。
ECIG 设备和液体的异质性会影响尼古丁和其他有毒物质的排放。需要更好地测量 ECIG 设备和液体特性，以了解尼古丁和有毒物质的排放情况，并为监管政策提供信息。
ECIG 设备和液体的异质性导致尼古丁和其他有毒物质的通量变化很大。这些数据表明，需要检查设备和液体特性，以制定以经验为依据的、促进健康的监管政策。政策可能包括制定产品标准，例如，（1）ECIG 产品的尼古丁通量不能远大于香烟，以降低依赖风险，（2）尼古丁通量要非常低，从而对香烟吸烟者的吸引力不大，可能成为年轻人或非吸烟者的入门产品，（3）排放大量颗粒物和其他有毒物质。
