When Less is More: Vaping Low-Nicotine vs. High-Nicotine E-Liquid is Compensated by Increased Wattage and Higher Liquid Consumption

Introduction:
This article reports the results of a survey of customers of a Dutch online vape shop and members of a Belgian vape bond, comparing their vaping behaviors and attitudes. The survey aimed to investigate certain evolutions with regard to technical aspects of vaping behavior, such as wattage, the volume of e-liquid used, and nicotine concentration.

Key Points:
- The survey included 150 customers of a Dutch online vape shop (Dutch Current group) and 274 members of a Belgian vape bond (Belgian Current group).
- Most participants were former smokers who started vaping to quit smoking, and reported positive effects on their health since switching from smoking to vaping.
- A striking observation was that whereas customers of the Dutch online vape shop used e-liquids with a similar nicotine concentration, the Belgian vapers used e-liquids with a significantly lower nicotine concentration but consumed much more of it.
- The resulting intake of the total quantity of nicotine did not differ between groups.
- Among vapers, different vaping typologies may exist, depending on subcultural and/or geographic parameters.
- As a consequence of choosing low nicotine concentrations and consuming more e-liquid, the Belgian vapers may have a greater potential to expose themselves to larger quantities of harmful or potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) released during vaping.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of considering regional and subcultural differences in vaping behaviors and attitudes when developing regulations for e-cigarettes. The authors suggest that the use of low nicotine concentrations and high consumption of e-liquid among some vapers may lead to increased exposure to harmful or potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) released during vaping. Therefore, regulations should aim to balance the potential risks and benefits of e-cigarettes, taking into account the diversity of vaping behaviors and preferences.

Smets, Jorien, Frank Baeyens, Martin Chaumont, Karolien Adriaens, and Dinska Van Gucht. “When Less Is More: Vaping Low-Nicotine vs. High-Nicotine E-Liquid Is Compensated by Increased Wattage and Higher Liquid Consumption.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 5 (February 28, 2019): 723. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16050723.