Nicotine levels in electronic cigarettes.

INTRODUCTION: The electronic cigarette (EC) is a plastic device that imitates conventional cigarettes and was developed to deliver nicotine in a toxin-free vapor. Nicotine in a solution is heated and vaporized when a person puffs through the device and is inhaled as a vapor into the mouth. The EC is a new product on the market and little is known about its safety and nicotine delivery efficacy. The aim of the study was to analyze nicotine levels in vapor generated from various EC brands and models. The study was designed to assess efficacy and consistency of various ECs in converting nicotine to vapor and to analyze dynamics of nicotine vaporization. METHODS: Sixteen ECs were selected based on their popularity in the Polish, U.K. and U.S. markets. Vapors were generated using an automatic smoking machine modified to simulate puffing conditions of real EC users. Nicotine was absorbed in a set of washing bottles with methanol and analyzed with gas chromatography. RESULTS: The total level of nicotine in vapor generated by 20 series of 15 puffs varied from 0.5 to 15.4 mg. Most of the analyzed ECs effectively delivered nicotine during the first 150-180 puffs. On an average, 50%-60% of nicotine from a cartridge was vaporized. CONCLUSIONS: ECs generate vapor that contains nicotine, but EC brands and models differ in their efficacy and consistency of nicotine vaporization. In ECs, which vaporize nicotine effectively, the amount inhaled from 15 puffs is lower compared with smoking a conventional cigarette.

Variations in nicotine yields between single cigarettes.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: It is beyond any doubt that nicotine yield in cigarettes as determined using standard ISO method bears almost no relation to smokers' actual intake. However, the ISO method is still in use in many countries where the government is responsible for controlling and monitoring cigarette quality. The aim of the study was to measure the nicotine yield in single cigarettes and to evaluate their statistical distribution among the same brand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nicotine yields were measured according to the ISO method in single cigarettes of the twenty most popular Polish brands of cigarettes. RESULTS: Relative standard deviation of nicotine yields in single cigarettes of the same brands varied from 16% to 34%. Relative differences between nicotine yields in a single cigarette of a particular brand and the mean value varied from -65% to +76%. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate high variation in nicotine yields between cigarettes of the same brand. Such variation might affect compensatory smoking. This provides another reason why yields estimated using the standard ISO method are potentially misleading to smokers. Further studies are needed to better understand the implications of within-brand variability in yields for tobacco product regulation.

[Use of hair nicotine as a tool to assess tobacco smoke exposure]. / Zastosowanie oznaczen nikotyny we wlosach jako narzedzia do oceny narazenia na dym tytoniowy.

The first paper concerning hair nicotine determination was published in 1983 by Ishiyama et al. Since then, examining hair nicotine content has become a valuable tool facilitating assessment of exposure to tobacco smoke in various groups of people (active and passive smokers or even neonates and fetus). The present article describes briefly recent research studies on the use of hair nicotine as a biomarker. Furthermore, the paper describes various determination techniques related to nicotine in hair, as well as advantages and disadvantages of hair nicotine as a biomarker.