Effect of third-party components on emissions from a pod style electronic cigarette

Abstract

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have been associated with a dramatic increase in youth becoming addicted to nicotine following decades-long decline in cigarette smoking uptake. The United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Tobacco Products (FDA/CTP) is responsible for regulating devices and consumable materials associated with ENDS. State and federal regulations regarding flavoring compounds in ENDS liquids (e-liquids) may be circumvented when vendors market refillable reservoirs side-by-side with noncompliant e-liquids. This study investigated the effect of third-party refillable versus manufacturer-supplied single-use reservoirs on total particulate matter (TPM) and nicotine emissions. The maximum TPM yield per puff was 5.6 times higher for the third-party (Blankz) reservoir (12.4 mg/puff) in comparison with the manufacturer's (JUUL) reservoir (2.2 mg/puff), whereas the maximum TPM concentration was over 7 times higher for third party (0.200 mg/ml) versus manufacturer (0.028 mg/ml) pod. The third-party pod was tested with nicotine concentrations ranging from 0% to 4%. The mass ratio of nicotine present in the aerosol (mg Nic/mg TPM) was found to be approximately the same as the mass ratio of the e-liquid (mg Nic/mg e-liquid) for both pods and all 3 nicotine laden e-liquids tested. Toxicant exposure may increase when consumers use third-party pods with ENDS devices. Refillable reservoirs are a significant barrier to regulatory restrictions on potentially toxic additives to e-liquids. It is recommended FDA/CTP require emissions characterization of third-party reservoirs used with each ENDS they are compatible with and should be required to demonstrate no increased potential toxicant exposure in comparison with manufacturer-provided reservoirs.

Keywords: environmental toxicology; exposure sciences; regulatory science.