Preliminary Results of an Examination of Electronic Cigarette User Puff Topography: The Effect of a Mouthpiece-Based Topography Measurement Device on Plasma Nicotine and Subjective Effects

Abstract

In experienced ECIG users, measuring ECIG topography did not influence ECIG-associated nicotine delivery or most measures of withdrawal suppression. Topography measurement systems will need to account for the low flow rates observed for ECIG users.

Effects of User Puff Topography, Device Voltage, and Liquid Nicotine Concentration on Electronic Cigarette Nicotine Yield: Measurements and Model Predictions

“…The fact that puff velocity does not influence nicotine yield may explain why ECIG user puff topography is associated with velocities that are less than those of cigarette smokers. 30 That is, although a high-velocity puff increases combustion rate and therefore increases the rate at which nicotine is converted from the leaf to the smoke in a tobacco cigarette, it does not increase the rate at which nicotine is emitted from an ECIG. Experienced ECIG users may have learned with practice that the greater effort associated with higher velocity does not influence nicotine-mediated subjective effects.…”

“…Puff durations were chosen to approximate that of a typical cigarette smoker (2 s), 6,27 an experienced ECIG user taking an average length puff (4 s), 6,27 and an experienced ECIG user taking a puff of the more extreme length observed (8 s). 27 Puff velocity was chosen to approximate that observed in tobacco cigarette smokers (33 ml/s), 18,28,29 but because experienced ECIG users may puff more slowly, 30 we also examined the effects of a lower velocity (17 ml/s). As Table 1 shows, puff duration and velocity were combined to yield five distinct puff profiles representing a tobacco cigarette smoker (2 s, 33 ml/s), an average ECIG user using low flow (4 s, 17 ml/s), an average ECIG user using a high flow (4 s, 17 ml/s), an extreme ECIG user using low flow (8 s, 17 ml/s), and an extreme ECIG user using a high flow (8 s, 33 ml/s).…”

“…24 The average puff velocity of tobacco cigarette smokers is generally 29-38 ml/s 18,28,29 though experienced ECIG users may draw lower puff velocities. 30 To date, no study has examined the combined influence of puff duration and velocity on nicotine yield in ECIG aerosol.…”

Will chronic e-cigarette use cause lung disease?

“…Studying E-Cig exposure is very much like trying to hit a moving target, but one where researchers are not completely sure what the target looks like, since E-Cig devices, the way that they are used, and the types/flavors of e-liquids available are constantly changing. However, some facts have been established: 1) current E-Cig devices deliver nicotine at comparable levels to cigarettes, and certainly at levels high enough to evoke physiological responses in humans and rodents (54,103,138), 2) nicotine is highly addictive and, along with its metabolites, can cause cancer and affect neuronal development in adolescents irrespective of its source (50,155), 3) e-liquids have been shown to contain potentially toxic aldehydes and ROS (146), and 4) some type of a biological response (e.g., change in cytokine levels) has been observed in the vast majority of murine in vivo and in vitro studies following E-Cig vapor/e-liquid exposure (94,133,152). Although it seems certain that E-Cig aerosols contain toxicants, it is fair to say that they likely contain less types of toxicants than cigarette smoke (i.e., E-Cig aerosols likely have hundreds of chemicals in them while tobacco smoke has thousands of chemicals).…”

E-Cigarettes: A Disruptive Technology That Revolutionizes Our Field?

“…10 Among experienced users using their preferred product it was found that 10 puffs at 16 ng/ml could give an increase in plasma nicotine concentrations similar to tobacco cigarettes. 11 Some pulmonary absorption of nicotine seems to take place since peak nicotine levels were achieved within 5 min of starting ENDS use. The study also found that the amount of nicotine obtained by users increases over time as users become more experienced.…”