Nicotine Levels and Presence of Selected Tobacco-Derived Toxins in Tobacco Flavoured Electronic Cigarette Refill Liquids

Introduction:
This text presents a study on the levels of nicotine and certain tobacco-derived toxins in electronic cigarette (EC) liquids, specifically those of tobacco flavor. The study compares conventional liquids, which use food flavorings, to liquids made with Natural Extracts of Tobacco (NET), which are extracted from cured tobacco leaves. The study examines the accuracy of nicotine labeling and the presence of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNas), nitrates, phenols, and aldehydes in these liquids. The text also compares the levels of these toxins in EC liquids to those found in tobacco products.

Key Points:

* The study analyzed 21 samples of EC liquids, 10 of which were conventional and 11 of which were NET.
* Twelve samples had nicotine levels within 10% of the labeled value, while the deviation ranged from -21% to 22.1% in all samples.
* Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNas) were present in all samples, with higher levels observed in NET liquids, but the differences were not statistically significant.
* Nitrate was predominantly found in NET samples, while phenols were more prevalent in NET liquids.
* acetaldehyde was detected in all but 3 conventional samples but only in 3 NET samples, while formaldehyde was present in all but one sample.
* The levels of TSNas and nitrate in EC liquids were 1 to 2 orders of magnitude lower compared to tobacco products.
* The study suggests that NET liquids may result in exposure to somewhat higher levels of toxins compared to conventional EC liquids, especially for nitrate and phenols.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of monitoring the levels of nicotine and tobacco-derived toxins in EC liquids. While the levels of these toxins are generally low in EC liquids, NET liquids may result in exposure to somewhat higher levels of toxins compared to conventional EC liquids, especially for nitrate and phenols. Therefore, it is essential to regulate the production and sale of these liquids to ensure the safety of EC users. additionally, further studies are needed to determine whether these chemicals are emitted to the aerosol and whether they are associated with adverse health effects.

Farsalinos, Konstantinos, I. Gillman, Matt Melvin, amelia Paolantonio, Wendy Gardow, Kathy humphries, Sherri Brown, Konstantinos Poulas, and Vassilis Voudris. “Nicotine Levels and Presence of Selected Tobacco-Derived Toxins in Tobacco Flavoured Electronic Cigarette Refill Liquids.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public health 12, no. 4 (March 24, 2015): 3439–52. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120403439.