Measurement of an electronic cigarette aerosol size distribution during a puff

Introduction:
This text provides an overview of a study that compares the size distribution and concentration of particles in the aerosol produced by electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and conventional cigarettes. The study aims to contribute to the understanding of the potential health impacts of e-cigarettes.

Key Points:

* The study used a piston-based machine to simulate a typical puff and a TSI scanning mobility particle sizer to measure particle concentrations and sizes.
* an e-cigarette commercially available on the Czech Republic market was tested and the results were compared with a conventional tobacco cigarette.
* The particles emitted from the e-cigarette were smaller than those of the conventional cigarette, but the total concentration of particles from e-cigarettes was higher.
* The study also highlights the challenges of measuring aerosol size distributions, including high concentration aerosols containing volatile compounds.
* The e-cigarette used in the study had variable wattage output, delivering the largest amount of vapor when adjusted to its maximum value.
* Four puffs were measured for every sample and the first puff was not included in the averaged results.
* The particle number concentrations for the e-cigarette were in the order of 10^9 part/cm3, similar to results from other studies.
* The total particle concentrations for e-cigarettes were roughly two times higher than that of a conventional cigarette, indicating that although e-cigarette smoke contains less harmful constituents, the particle numbers for e-cigarettes are higher, and human respiratory airways can be exposed to high doses of compounds such as propylene glycol.

Main Message:
The main message of the text is that while e-cigarettes may be a healthier alternative to conventional cigarettes, they still emit high concentrations of particles that can have potential health impacts. The study highlights the need for further research to fully understand the potential health impacts of e-cigarettes and the importance of considering particle concentrations in addition to harmful constituents when evaluating the health effects of e-cigarettes. additionally, the study emphasizes the challenges of measuring aerosol size distributions and the importance of proper dilution to prevent coagulation and evaporation of large particles.

Belka, Miloslav, Frantisek Lizal, Jan Jedelsky, Miroslav Jicha, and Jiri Pospisil. “Measurement of an Electronic Cigarette aerosol Size Distribution during a Puff.” Edited by P. Dančová. EPJ Web of Conferences 143 (2017): 02006. https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201714302006.