Machine Vaping of Electronic Cigarettes - A Comparison of Puffing Regimes^#

Abstract

Summary Several machine-based puffing regimes for collection of e-cigarette aerosol were evaluated with the objective of recommending one regime for standardization. The study involved a comparison of several candidate regimes for which puff volume, duration, interval, profile shape, and puff number were defined and varied. Testing was conducted at four laboratories using seven e-cigarette test products. Each participating laboratory generated and analyzed aerosol from the test products for glycerin, propylene glycol, water, and nicotine using the candidate regimes. Results were compared within each product’s data set to understand the impact of the regimes on product yield, consistency of results, and reliability of the testing equipment. Each of the regimes evaluated was determined to be fit for purpose for the range of products tested. Based on specific selection criteria, the recommended collection parameters are a square-shaped 55-mL puff of 3 s duration with a puff frequency of one puff every 30 s. Standardized reporting parameters include aerosol collected mass (ACM), puff count, and e-cigarette weight loss along with analyte yield on a per-puff basis and total-puffs basis.

Determination of chemical constituent yields in e-cigarette aerosol using partial and whole pod collections, a comparative analysis

“…While primary constituent per DML measurements were consistent over pod life, per puff measurements of primary constituents decrease in the end puff block for some products, consistent with observed trends in DML. Previous research has shown changes in DML occur over ENDS pod life ( Gupta et al, 2021 ), but we are not aware of studies reporting the yields of primary constituents in discrete blocks over product life. Previous studies have reported high variability in metal yields between product categories, brands, flavors and other factors ( Zhao et al, 2019 ; Gray et al, 2020 ; Kapiamba et al, 2022 ).…”

“…To design collection strategies that accurately estimate total chemical constituent yields from ENDS, it is necessary to understand whether changes in the yield profile of chemical constituents occur over the life of a product. Gupta et al showed aerosol collected mass per puff from closed pod-based ENDS products can decrease by over 50% from first 50-puffs to last 50-puffs ( Gupta et al, 2021 ). Belushkin et al (2020) and colleagues tested a broad range of commercially available ENDS products and reported that formaldehyde levels can increase significantly on a per puff basis over the life of a pod in some closed system ENDS.…”