TitleHow Much Nicotine is in Your Electronic Cigarette Flavored Liquid?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsGuy, MC, Pokhrel, P, Herzog, TA, Cassel, KD, Sakuma, K-L, Trinidad, DR, Palafox, S, Halquist, MS, Eissenberg, T, Bodnar-Deren, S, Fagan, P
JournalTobacco Regulatory Science
Volume5
Issue1
Pagination15 - 26
Date Published01/2019
ISSN2333-9748
Abstract

Objectives

In this study, we examined the concordance of manufacturers' labeled nicotine concentration on flavored electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) liquids with lab measured nicotine concentrations and how nicotine is marketed on product labels.

Methods

The top 10 selling flavored e-cigarette liquids for 7 brands were purchased from 7 vape shops in 2 major US cities – Richmond, Virginia and Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2015. We examined the nicotine concentration using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (.05mg/mL limit of quantification) and descriptive information on the e-cigarette bottles (N = 40).

Results

All nicotine-based samples showed discordance between the labeled and lab measured nicotine concentrations. Overall, 27% showed a higher mean level of measured nicotine, and Richmond, VA samples showed the highest levels of discordance (-60% [pipe tobacco]; 39% [green goblin]). Additionally, 90% of the 6 different types of nicotine-related warning statements indicated that the product "may" contain nicotine ("e-liquid may contain nicotine") even when the product contained nicotine. Moreover, 20% of the e-cigarette liquids included descriptors (low, medium, high nicotine).

Conclusions

The findings show that e-cigarette manufacturers provided inaccurate information about nicotine on product labels. Studies are needed to determine what quality control standards are needed to protect the public from the harms of nicotine.

DOI10.18001/TRS.5.1.2
Short Titletobacco reg sci