E-Liquids from Seven European Countries-Warnings Analysis and Freebase Nicotine Content

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes are available in a variety of devices with e-liquids also available in many flavors, and nicotine concentrations, albeit less than 20 mg/mL in Europe. Given the dynamics of these products, it is important to evaluate product content, including labeling, nicotine content versus labeled claim, nicotine form, and other aspects that may help policy decisions and align with the Tobacco Product Directive (TPD). Herein, we performed a study on 86 e-liquids from seven European countries (Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom) with 34 different liquid brands and 57 different flavors. Nicotine content versus labeled claim, labeling, volume, pH, and nicotine form (i.e., freebase nicotine) were evaluated. From all tested products, eight of them from Germany, Poland, and UK (from 3 to 18 mg/mL), met the ±2% criteria. The ±10% criteria was fulfilled by 50 (58.1%) liquids from all countries. Among 71 liquids which contained nicotine, (one e-liquid labeled as 6 mg/mL had no nicotine level quantified), the amount of freebase nicotine differed from 0 to 97.8%, with a mean value 56.5 ± 35.7. None of the tested liquids had nicotine salt listed in the ingredients. Therefore, a low level of freebase nicotine in some liquids was most likely achieved by added flavorings. All tested liquids presented in this study met the basic requirements of the TPD. There were differences in the scope of information about harmfulness, type of warnings on packaging, attaching leaflets, placing graphic symbols, and discrepancies between the declared and quantified nicotine concentrations.

Keywords: European legislation; e-liquids; nicotine; nicotine form.

Figure 1

Nicotine forms.

Figure 2

Differences in freebase nicotine content between different types of flavors. Liquids which differ statistically from sweet or fruity liquids were marked as a and b, respectively (p < 0.05, Scheffe test).

Figure 3

Differences in freebase nicotine content between different labeled nicotine concentrations. Liquids which differed statistically from 1.5 mg/mL nicotine liquids or 3 mg/mL liquids were marked as a and b, respectively (p < 0.05, Scheffe test).