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. 2022 Sep 16;22(1):1760.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14152-2.

Market survey of disposable e-cigarette nicotine content and e-liquid volume

Scott Appleton  1 , Helen Cyrus-Miller  2 , Ryan Seltzer  3 , Karin Gilligan  4 , Willie McKinney  5
Affiliations

Market survey of disposable e-cigarette nicotine content and e-liquid volume

Scott Appleton et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Inaccurate labels on some e-cigarette products have prompted calls for routine testing to monitor product label integrity. The objective of this study was to compare label statements of commercial disposable/non-chargeable e-cigarette products for nicotine concentration and e-liquid volume with analytically verified levels. Commercial e-cigarette samples were analyzed for nicotine concentration (N = 51), e-liquid volume and total nicotine content (N = 39). Twenty-three of the 51 samples analyzed for nicotine deviated from their label statements by more than ± 10%. Deviations ranged from -50.1% to + 13.9%. Thirty of the 39 samples analyzed for e-liquid volume deviated from their label statements by more than ± 10%. Deviations ranged from -62.1% to + 13.3%. Only one brand listed total nicotine on the label. In thirty-one of the 39 samples, calculated total nicotine amount in e-liquid deviated from the amounts calculated from the label metrics by more than ± 10%. Deviations ranged from -66.8% to -1.43%. These findings underscore the need for regulatory enforcement of manufacturing quality control and product labeling practices to optimize the harm reduction potential and consumer experience associated with the use of e-cigarette products.

Keywords: Nicotine levels; Product labeling; e-cigarettes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Willie McKinney is an independent consultant contracted by tobacco product manufacturers to provide scientific and regulatory support. Scott Appleton, Karin Gilligan, Helen Cyrus-Miller, and Ryan Seltzer are independent consultants contracted by McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors, LLC to design and execute scientific studies, in addition to drafting and reviewing manuscripts. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Percent Difference of Labeled vs. Measured Nicotine Concentration (N = 51). Comparisons of nicotine percentages using common units of mg/mL were made using an e-liquid density correction to convert nicotine mg/g to mg/mL. Density data are not shown. Measured nicotine concentrations (Grey Area) were lower than labeled nicotine concentrations (Outlined Areas) for the majority of evaluated commercial disposable/non-chargeable e-cigarette products. The percent differences from the label (Figure 1, right column) ranged from -50.1 to 13.9%
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Percent Difference of Labeled vs. Measured E-liquid Volume (N =39). Measured e-liquid volumes (Grey Area) were lower than labeled e-liquid volumes (Outlined Area) for the majority of evaluated commercial disposable/non-rechargeable e-cigarette products. The percent differences from the label (Figure 2, right column) ranged from -62.1 to 13.3%
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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