Effects of User Puff Topography, Device Voltage, and Liquid Nicotine Concentration on Electronic Cigarette Nicotine Yield: Measurements and Model Predictions

Introduction:
This text is a summary of an original investigation published in the Nicotine & Tobacco Research journal in 2015. The study examines the factors that influence the nicotine yield of electronic cigarettes (ECIGs), including user puff topography, device voltage, and liquid nicotine concentration. The study's findings have important regulatory implications for product labeling, abuse liability, and toxicant emissions.

Key Points:

* The study found that nicotine yields from 15 puffs varied by more than 50-fold across conditions.
* Experienced ECIG user profiles (longer puffs) resulted in higher nicotine yields relative to the tobacco smoker (shorter puffs).
* Puff velocity had no effect on nicotine yield, but puff duration and voltage had a significant impact on nicotine yield.
* Nicotine concentration had an effect on nicotine yield, but not on total particulate matter (TPM).
* a theoretical model was developed to simulate the ECIG aerosol production process and to provide insight into the empirical observations.
* The study also examined the influence of user puff topography and device power source voltage on nicotine yield and demonstrated the feasibility of predicting the effects of these variables by modeling the underlying physical phenomena mathematically.
* The investigation also considered the effect of varying nicotine concentration in the e-liquid.

Main Message:
The study shows that ECIG emissions can be predicted using physical principles, with knowledge of puff topography and a few ECIG device design parameters. The findings have important regulatory implications for ECIG product labeling, abuse liability, and toxicant emissions. The study's results highlight the need for a robust mathematical model that reliably can predict nicotine yield for any circumstance, and further research is necessary to characterize the effects of puff topography and device features on non-nicotine toxicant emissions. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the factors that influence ECIG nicotine yield, which can inform regulatory action in this rapidly evolving product category.

Talih, Soha, Zainab Balhas, Thomas Eissenberg, Rola Salman, Nareg Karaoghlanian, ahmad El hellani, Rima Baalbaki, Najat Saliba, and alan Shihadeh. “Effects of User Puff Topography, Device Voltage, and Liquid Nicotine Concentration on Electronic Cigarette Nicotine Yield: Measurements and Model Predictions.” Nicotine & Tobacco Research 17, no. 2 (February 2015): 150–57. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu174.