Nicotine Delivery to the aerosol of a heat-Not-Burn Tobacco Product: Comparison With a Tobacco Cigarette and E-Cigarettes

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a study examining the levels of nicotine in a heat-not-burn (hnB) tobacco product, electronic cigarettes (ECs), and traditional tobacco cigarettes. The study aims to compare the nicotine delivery of these products under different puffing regimes.

Key Points:

* The study compared the nicotine levels in an hnB product, ECs, and tobacco cigarettes.
* The hnB product and tobacco cigarettes contained similar levels of nicotine per gram of tobacco.
* The hnB product delivered more nicotine than the ciga-like EC and less nicotine than the eGo style and variable wattage ECs under prolonged puffing duration.
* The tobacco cigarette delivered the highest level of nicotine, significantly higher than both hnB products and all ECs under both puffing regimes.
* The study found that puff duration affected nicotine delivery in ECs but not in the hnB product.
* The hnB product delivered more nicotine than third-generation ECs with short puff durations.

Main Message:
The main message of this study is that the hnB product delivers less nicotine to the aerosol compared to the smoke of a tobacco cigarette under the puffing regimes tested. Compared to EC products, higher levels of nicotine emissions were observed at low puff duration, but newer-generation ECs were able to deliver more nicotine at prolonged puffs. Clinical studies are needed to compare the different products' ability to successfully deliver nicotine and substitute tobacco cigarette use among smokers. additional studies are also required to assess the difference in toxin emissions and safety-risk profile, so that smokers are properly informed about the risk continuum of different smoking substitutes. The abuse liability and potential addictiveness for nonsmokers should also be examined.

Farsalinos, Konstantinos E, Nikoletta Yannovits, Theoni Sarri, Vassilis Voudris, and Konstantinos Poulas. “Nicotine Delivery to the aerosol of a heat-Not-Burn Tobacco Product: Comparison With a Tobacco Cigarette and E-Cigarettes.” Nicotine & Tobacco Research 20, no. 8 (July 9, 2018): 1004–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntx138.