Nicotine content in flavored electronic cigarette liquids using three unique samples
Background Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is increasing, but consumers may be unaware of the nicotine concentrations in e-cigarettes or discrepancies in product advertised versus measured nicotine in e-cigarette liquids. Levels of nicotine, the addictive and toxic chemical in e-cigarette li...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
European Publishing
2018-03-01
|
| Series: | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Nicotine-content-in-flavored-electronic-cigarette-liquids-using-three-unique-samples,84629,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1818354548249460736 |
|---|---|
| author | Pebbles Fagan Mignonne Guy Pallav Pokhrel Thaddeus Herzog Eric Soule Sarah Maloney Sherilyn Palafox Thomas Eissenberg |
| author_facet | Pebbles Fagan Mignonne Guy Pallav Pokhrel Thaddeus Herzog Eric Soule Sarah Maloney Sherilyn Palafox Thomas Eissenberg |
| author_sort | Pebbles Fagan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background
Electronic
cigarette (e-cigarette) use is increasing, but consumers may be unaware of the nicotine
concentrations in e-cigarettes or discrepancies in product advertised versus
measured nicotine in e-cigarette liquids. Levels of nicotine, the addictive and
toxic chemical in e-cigarette liquids, can influence consumers' exposure,
dependence on the product, and/or success in switching from cigarettes to
e-cigarettes. This study quantified the
levels of nicotine in three unique samples: national sample of 147 flavored
e-cigarette liquids purchased in the USA; 66 samples purchased in the state of Hawaii,
USA; and 40 samples purchased in Virginia and Hawaii, USA.
Methods
Flavored
e-cigarette liquid samples were purchased from manufacturers/distributors in
2015 for the Hawaii and Virginia samples and in 2016 for the national sample.
For each flavor, staff purchased three or four concentrations of nicotine
depending on manufacturer/distributor availability: 0 mg/ml; 3, 6 or 8 mg/ml; 11 or 12 mg/ml; and
18, 24 or 25 mg/ml. We measured nicotine
concentration in each sample using liquid
chromatography mass spectrometry and calculated the percent or relative
difference for each.
Results
For the national sample of e-cigarette flavored
liquids labeled as 0 mg/ml, 100% contained detectable levels of nicotine; 88% of
Hawaii samples; and 0% of the combined Hawaii and Virginia samples in the third study. For all three
unique samples, we found high levels of discordance between advertised (3 mg/ml
or greater) versus measured nicotine. In some samples, levels of nicotine were
higher, and in others, lower than that advertised on the labels. Discordance was not associated with flavor
type.
Conclusions
Discrepancies between the manufacturer's labeling and
measured nicotine could potentially influence nicotine delivery and toxicity
exposure. Studies are needed to determine what standards are needed to ensure
accurate labeling and quality controls that protect consumers, including those
who are not aware that they are being exposed to nicotine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:27:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-740c34d7a4dd444bba9478b91931d25b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1617-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:27:10Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | European Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-740c34d7a4dd444bba9478b91931d25b2022-12-21T23:34:00ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252018-03-0116110.18332/tid/8462984629Nicotine content in flavored electronic cigarette liquids using three unique samplesPebbles Fagan0Mignonne Guy1Pallav Pokhrel2Thaddeus Herzog3Eric Soule4Sarah Maloney5Sherilyn Palafox6Thomas Eissenberg7Univerity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Health Behavior and Health Education, United States of AmericaVirginia Commonwealth University, African American Studies, United States of AmericaUniversity of Hawaii, United States of AmericaUniversity of Hawaii, United States of AmericaVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Psychology, United States of AmericaVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Psychology, United States of AmericaUniversity of Hawaii, United States of AmericaVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Psychology, United States of AmericaBackground Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is increasing, but consumers may be unaware of the nicotine concentrations in e-cigarettes or discrepancies in product advertised versus measured nicotine in e-cigarette liquids. Levels of nicotine, the addictive and toxic chemical in e-cigarette liquids, can influence consumers' exposure, dependence on the product, and/or success in switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes. This study quantified the levels of nicotine in three unique samples: national sample of 147 flavored e-cigarette liquids purchased in the USA; 66 samples purchased in the state of Hawaii, USA; and 40 samples purchased in Virginia and Hawaii, USA. Methods Flavored e-cigarette liquid samples were purchased from manufacturers/distributors in 2015 for the Hawaii and Virginia samples and in 2016 for the national sample. For each flavor, staff purchased three or four concentrations of nicotine depending on manufacturer/distributor availability: 0 mg/ml; 3, 6 or 8 mg/ml; 11 or 12 mg/ml; and 18, 24 or 25 mg/ml. We measured nicotine concentration in each sample using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and calculated the percent or relative difference for each. Results For the national sample of e-cigarette flavored liquids labeled as 0 mg/ml, 100% contained detectable levels of nicotine; 88% of Hawaii samples; and 0% of the combined Hawaii and Virginia samples in the third study. For all three unique samples, we found high levels of discordance between advertised (3 mg/ml or greater) versus measured nicotine. In some samples, levels of nicotine were higher, and in others, lower than that advertised on the labels. Discordance was not associated with flavor type. Conclusions Discrepancies between the manufacturer's labeling and measured nicotine could potentially influence nicotine delivery and toxicity exposure. Studies are needed to determine what standards are needed to ensure accurate labeling and quality controls that protect consumers, including those who are not aware that they are being exposed to nicotine.http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Nicotine-content-in-flavored-electronic-cigarette-liquids-using-three-unique-samples,84629,0,2.htmlWCTOH |
| spellingShingle | Pebbles Fagan Mignonne Guy Pallav Pokhrel Thaddeus Herzog Eric Soule Sarah Maloney Sherilyn Palafox Thomas Eissenberg Nicotine content in flavored electronic cigarette liquids using three unique samples Tobacco Induced Diseases WCTOH |
| title | Nicotine content in flavored electronic cigarette liquids using three unique samples |
| title_full | Nicotine content in flavored electronic cigarette liquids using three unique samples |
| title_fullStr | Nicotine content in flavored electronic cigarette liquids using three unique samples |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nicotine content in flavored electronic cigarette liquids using three unique samples |
| title_short | Nicotine content in flavored electronic cigarette liquids using three unique samples |
| title_sort | nicotine content in flavored electronic cigarette liquids using three unique samples |
| topic | WCTOH |
| url | http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Nicotine-content-in-flavored-electronic-cigarette-liquids-using-three-unique-samples,84629,0,2.html |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pebblesfagan nicotinecontentinflavoredelectroniccigaretteliquidsusingthreeuniquesamples AT mignonneguy nicotinecontentinflavoredelectroniccigaretteliquidsusingthreeuniquesamples AT pallavpokhrel nicotinecontentinflavoredelectroniccigaretteliquidsusingthreeuniquesamples AT thaddeusherzog nicotinecontentinflavoredelectroniccigaretteliquidsusingthreeuniquesamples AT ericsoule nicotinecontentinflavoredelectroniccigaretteliquidsusingthreeuniquesamples AT sarahmaloney nicotinecontentinflavoredelectroniccigaretteliquidsusingthreeuniquesamples AT sherilynpalafox nicotinecontentinflavoredelectroniccigaretteliquidsusingthreeuniquesamples AT thomaseissenberg nicotinecontentinflavoredelectroniccigaretteliquidsusingthreeuniquesamples |