Nicotine Concentrations in Electronic Cigarette Refill and Do-It-Yourself Fluids
Open Access
- 26 May 2014
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Nicotine & Tobacco Research
- Vol. 17 (2), 134-141
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu080
Abstract
Introduction: We evaluate the accuracy of nicotine concentration labeling on electronic cigarette refill products. Methods: The nicotine concentration of 71 electronic cigarette refill fluid products and 1 related do-it-yourself (DIY) product was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Quantified data were compared to manufacturers labeled concentrations. Duplicate refill fluid products purchased at different times were evaluated by visual comparison of fluid coloration and quantified nicotine concentration. Results: Thirty-five of the 54 nicotine-containing fluids had quantified nicotine concentrations that deviated by more than ±10% from the manufacturer labels with 46 of 50 being in excess of labeled values. Refill fluids labeled as 0 nicotine had no detectable nicotine. Of the 5 products that were unlabeled for nicotine concentration, 3 contained no detectable nicotine, whereas the remaining 2 contained nicotine in excess of 100mg/ml and may have been intended for DIY use. Sixteen of the 18 duplicate bottles of refill fluid varied greatly in their nicotine concentrations. One of the 5 companies showed significant improvement in labeling accuracy in the most recently purchased products. Of the 23 total duplicate pairs, 15 of 23 varied in coloration from their mates. Conclusions: Nicotine concentration labeling on electronic cigarette refill products was often inaccurate but showed improvement recently in products from 1 company. To ensure the safety of refill fluids and DIY products, it is necessary to establish quality control guidelines for the manufacturing and labeling and to monitor products longitudinally.Keywords
This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
- Health-Related Effects Reported by Electronic Cigarette Users in Online ForumsJournal of Medical Internet Research, 2013
- Levels of selected carcinogens and toxicants in vapour from electronic cigarettesTobacco Control, 2013
- Comparison of electronic cigarette refill fluid cytotoxicity using embryonic and adult modelsReproductive Toxicology, 2012
- Nicotine Levels in Electronic CigarettesNicotine & Tobacco Research, 2012
- Effect of an electronic nicotine delivery device (e-Cigarette) on smoking reduction and cessation: a prospective 6-month pilot studyBMC Public Health, 2011
- ANALYSIS OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE CARTRIDGES, REFILL SOLUTIONS, AND SMOKE FOR NICOTINE AND NICOTINE RELATED IMPURITIESJournal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies, 2011
- Electronic Cigarettes As a Smoking-Cessation ToolAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2011
- Electronic nicotine delivery systems: is there a need for regulation?Tobacco Control, 2010
- Conventional and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have different smoking characteristicsNicotine & Tobacco Research, 2010
- Death due to ingestion of nicotine-containing solution: Case report and review of the literatureForensic Science International, 2010