E-Cigarette Puffing Topography: The Importance of assessing User Behaviour to Inform Emissions Testing.

Introduction:
This text provides a comprehensive review of the importance of assessing e-cigarette puffing topography to inform emissions testing. The authors discuss the limitations of standardized puffing regimens and the benefits of collecting human puffing behavior data to generate more accurate risk assessments for e-cigarette users. They also explore various methods for assessing puffing topography and their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Key Points:

* Standardized puffing regimens may not fully represent the range of human use patterns across the broad range of e-cigarette products and consumers.
* Caution should be taken when interpreting emissions data generated using standard regimes, especially when estimating consumer exposure to aerosol constituents and the resulting risk to health, without determining user puffing data to verify the appropriateness of the parameters used.
* Puffing topography can be assessed through video recording, e-cigarette device assessment, specialized devices, and novel approaches such as smartwatch technology.
* Naturalistic puff topography assessed using the wPUM device can differ markedly from puffing regimens dictated by the FTC/ISO, health Canada Intense (hCI), and Massachusetts Department of Public health (MDPh) standards.
* human puffing behavior can impact emissions toxicant yields, and the use of standardized puffing regimens may lead to under- or over-estimation of exposure and risk.
* Topography data can support the generation of a more accurate assessment of likely nicotine uptake/exposure and facilitate a stronger toxicological risk assessment for the use of a given e-cigarette.
* Regulatory submissions can benefit from the use of regimens based on actual user behavior, which reflect real-world use and provide more accurate information on user exposure to chemical toxicants.

Main Message:
assessing e-cigarette puffing topography is crucial for generating accurate risk assessments and informing regulatory submissions. By collecting human puffing behavior data, researchers can better understand the impact of puffing patterns on emissions toxicant yields and provide more reliable information on user exposure to chemical toxicants. Utilizing regimens based on actual user behavior can help ensure the accuracy and relevance of risk assessments and support informed decision-making in regulatory contexts.

Wadkin R, allen C, Fearon IM. E-Cigarette Puffing Topography: The Importance of assessing User Behaviour to Inform Emissions Testing. Drug testing and analysis. Published online May 19, 2022. doi:10.1002/dta.3322