HHS Public Access Author manuscript Author Manuscript
Tob Control. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 April 01. Published in final edited form as: Tob Control. 2016 April ; 25(E1): e6–e9. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052447.
Electronic Cigarette Nicotine Delivery Can Exceed that of Combustible Cigarettes: A Preliminary Report Carolina P. Ramôa, Ph.D.1,2, Marzena M. Hiler, B.A.1,2, Tory R Spindle, B.S.1,2, Alexa A. Lopez, Ph.D.1,2, Nareg Karaoghlanian, MEng4, Thokozeni Lipato, M.D.1,3, Alison B. Breland, Ph.D.1,2, Alan Shihadeh, Sc.D1,4, and Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D.1,2 1Center
for the Study of Tobacco Products, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond,
Author Manuscript
Virginia 2Department
of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
3Department
of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
4Department
of Mechanical Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Abstract Introduction—Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) aerosolize a liquid that usually contains propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin, flavorants, and the dependence-producing drug nicotine in various concentrations. This laboratory study examined the relationship between liquid nicotine concentration on plasma nicotine concentration and puffing behavior in experienced ECIG users.
Author Manuscript
Methods—Sixteen ECIG-experienced participants used a 3.3-Volt ECIG battery attached to a 1.5-Ohm dual-coil “cartomizer” loaded with 1 ml of a flavored propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin liquid to complete four sessions, at least 2 days apart, that differed by nicotine concentration (0, 8, 18, or 36 mg/ml). In each session, participants completed two 10-puff ECIG use bouts (30-sec puff interval) separated by 60 minutes. Venous blood was sampled to determine plasma nicotine concentration. Puff duration, volume, and average flow rate were measured.
Author Manuscript
Results—Immediately after bout 1, mean plasma nicotine concentration was 5.5 ng/ml (SD=7.7) for 0 mg/ml liquid, with significantly (p10 days and/or alcohol use >25 days in the past 30, and use of other illicit drugs in the past 30 days. Women were excluded if they tested positive for pregnancy by urinalysis at screening. Procedure Similar to another report,14 all participants completed four independent, double-blind laboratory sessions preceded by instructions to abstain for >12 hours of tobacco/nicotine, separated by >48 hours, and randomized. In each session, participants were provided with an Tob Control. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 April 01.
Ramôa et al.
Page 3
Author Manuscript
“eGo” 3.3-Volt, 1000 mAh battery with a 1.5-Ohm, dual-coil, 510-style cartomizer preloaded (by staff with no participant contact) with 1-ml of a flavored (tobacco or menthol), 70% propylene glycol/30% vegetable glycerin liquid. Sessions differed by liquid nicotine concentration: 0, 8, 18, or 36 mg/ml. All ECIG liquids were tested to verify nicotine concentration throughout the study, and results indicated that, on average, the actual nicotine content was +/− 1 mg of the labeled nicotine content. In each session, participants completed two, 10-puff ECIG use bouts (separated by 60 minutes as in previous work)15 with a 30second inter-puff interval. Venous blood was sampled ten times in each session (10 minutes prior to bout 1, and 5, 15, 30, 45, and 55 minutes after bout 1 and 5, 15, 30, and 45 minutes 16 after bout 2) for later analysis of plasma nicotine concentration.[ ] Puff duration, volume, 10 and peak flow were measured using ECIG-specific equipment.[ ] Other outcomes (e.g., heart rate, subjective effects) were assessed but are not the focus of this preliminary report and are not discussed further.
Author Manuscript
Statistical Analyses For plasma nicotine data, in order to maintain statistical power in this preliminary report while limiting Type I error, we conducted a set of a priori comparisons using dependent samples t-tests in which, at each measurement time point, the mean plasma nicotine concentration for the 0 mg/ml condition was compared to the corresponding mean of the 8, 18, and 36 mg/ml condition. Because these comparisons were non-orthogonal at each time 17 point, a Bonferroni correction was applied.[ ] For topography data, we used the same analytic strategy within each bout (i.e., for each measure, comparing 0 to 8, 18, and 36 mg/ml, with a Bonferroni correction) but compared across bouts within each dose using uncorrected dependent samples t-tests for these orthogonal comparisons.
Author Manuscript
RESULTS Participant Characteristics Fifteen men and 1 woman participated in this study, of which 11 self-identified as White, 3 African American, 1 native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 1 other. Mean (SD) age was 29.6 (5.8) years. On average, participants had been using ECIGs for 1.4 (0.9) years and consumed 2.0 (1.4) ml nicotine liquid daily at 19.8 (5.9) mg/ml nicotine concentration. Thirteen did not smoke any cigarettes and three smoked an average of 2.3 (0.9) cigarettes/day for 1.7 (2.3) years. At screening, average expired air carbon monoxide (CO) concentration was 3.5 (2.4) parts/million. Plasma Nicotine
Author Manuscript
Figure 1 depicts mean plasma nicotine concentration over time by liquid nicotine concentration. Significant (p
Tob Control. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 April 01. Published in final edited form as: Tob Control. 2016 April ; 25(E1): e6–e9. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052447.
Electronic Cigarette Nicotine Delivery Can Exceed that of Combustible Cigarettes: A Preliminary Report Carolina P. Ramôa, Ph.D.1,2, Marzena M. Hiler, B.A.1,2, Tory R Spindle, B.S.1,2, Alexa A. Lopez, Ph.D.1,2, Nareg Karaoghlanian, MEng4, Thokozeni Lipato, M.D.1,3, Alison B. Breland, Ph.D.1,2, Alan Shihadeh, Sc.D1,4, and Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D.1,2 1Center
for the Study of Tobacco Products, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond,
Author Manuscript
Virginia 2Department
of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
3Department
of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
4Department
of Mechanical Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Abstract Introduction—Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) aerosolize a liquid that usually contains propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin, flavorants, and the dependence-producing drug nicotine in various concentrations. This laboratory study examined the relationship between liquid nicotine concentration on plasma nicotine concentration and puffing behavior in experienced ECIG users.
Author Manuscript
Methods—Sixteen ECIG-experienced participants used a 3.3-Volt ECIG battery attached to a 1.5-Ohm dual-coil “cartomizer” loaded with 1 ml of a flavored propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin liquid to complete four sessions, at least 2 days apart, that differed by nicotine concentration (0, 8, 18, or 36 mg/ml). In each session, participants completed two 10-puff ECIG use bouts (30-sec puff interval) separated by 60 minutes. Venous blood was sampled to determine plasma nicotine concentration. Puff duration, volume, and average flow rate were measured.
Author Manuscript
Results—Immediately after bout 1, mean plasma nicotine concentration was 5.5 ng/ml (SD=7.7) for 0 mg/ml liquid, with significantly (p10 days and/or alcohol use >25 days in the past 30, and use of other illicit drugs in the past 30 days. Women were excluded if they tested positive for pregnancy by urinalysis at screening. Procedure Similar to another report,14 all participants completed four independent, double-blind laboratory sessions preceded by instructions to abstain for >12 hours of tobacco/nicotine, separated by >48 hours, and randomized. In each session, participants were provided with an Tob Control. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 April 01.
Ramôa et al.
Page 3
Author Manuscript
“eGo” 3.3-Volt, 1000 mAh battery with a 1.5-Ohm, dual-coil, 510-style cartomizer preloaded (by staff with no participant contact) with 1-ml of a flavored (tobacco or menthol), 70% propylene glycol/30% vegetable glycerin liquid. Sessions differed by liquid nicotine concentration: 0, 8, 18, or 36 mg/ml. All ECIG liquids were tested to verify nicotine concentration throughout the study, and results indicated that, on average, the actual nicotine content was +/− 1 mg of the labeled nicotine content. In each session, participants completed two, 10-puff ECIG use bouts (separated by 60 minutes as in previous work)15 with a 30second inter-puff interval. Venous blood was sampled ten times in each session (10 minutes prior to bout 1, and 5, 15, 30, 45, and 55 minutes after bout 1 and 5, 15, 30, and 45 minutes 16 after bout 2) for later analysis of plasma nicotine concentration.[ ] Puff duration, volume, 10 and peak flow were measured using ECIG-specific equipment.[ ] Other outcomes (e.g., heart rate, subjective effects) were assessed but are not the focus of this preliminary report and are not discussed further.
Author Manuscript
Statistical Analyses For plasma nicotine data, in order to maintain statistical power in this preliminary report while limiting Type I error, we conducted a set of a priori comparisons using dependent samples t-tests in which, at each measurement time point, the mean plasma nicotine concentration for the 0 mg/ml condition was compared to the corresponding mean of the 8, 18, and 36 mg/ml condition. Because these comparisons were non-orthogonal at each time 17 point, a Bonferroni correction was applied.[ ] For topography data, we used the same analytic strategy within each bout (i.e., for each measure, comparing 0 to 8, 18, and 36 mg/ml, with a Bonferroni correction) but compared across bouts within each dose using uncorrected dependent samples t-tests for these orthogonal comparisons.
Author Manuscript
RESULTS Participant Characteristics Fifteen men and 1 woman participated in this study, of which 11 self-identified as White, 3 African American, 1 native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 1 other. Mean (SD) age was 29.6 (5.8) years. On average, participants had been using ECIGs for 1.4 (0.9) years and consumed 2.0 (1.4) ml nicotine liquid daily at 19.8 (5.9) mg/ml nicotine concentration. Thirteen did not smoke any cigarettes and three smoked an average of 2.3 (0.9) cigarettes/day for 1.7 (2.3) years. At screening, average expired air carbon monoxide (CO) concentration was 3.5 (2.4) parts/million. Plasma Nicotine
Author Manuscript
Figure 1 depicts mean plasma nicotine concentration over time by liquid nicotine concentration. Significant (p
