Dataset Information

An Electronic Cigarette Vaping Machine for the Characterization of Aerosol Delivery and Composition.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Characterization of aerosols generated by electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is one method used to evaluate the safety of e-cigarettes. While some researchers have modified smoking machines for e-cigarette aerosol generation, these machines are either not readily available, not automated for e-cigarette testing or have not been adequately described. The objective of this study was to build an e-cigarette vaping machine that can be used to test, under standard conditions, e-liquid aerosolization and nicotine and toxicant delivery.

Methods

The vaping machine was assembled from commercially available parts, including a puff controller, vacuum pump, power supply, switch to control current flow to the atomizer, three-way value to direct air flow to the atomizer, and three gas dispersion tubes for aerosol trapping. To validate and illustrate its use, the variation in aerosol generation was assessed within and between KangerTech Mini ProTank 3 clearomizers, and the effect of voltage on aerosolization and toxic aldehyde generation were assessed.

Results

When using one ProTank 3 clearomizer and different e-liquid flavors, the coefficient of variation (CV) of aerosol generated ranged between 11.5% and 19.3%. The variation in aerosol generated between ProTank 3 clearomizers with different e-liquid flavors and voltage settings ranged between 8.3% and 16.3% CV. Aerosol generation increased linearly at 3-6V across e-liquids and clearomizer brands. Acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde generation increased markedly at voltages at or above 5V.

Conclusion

The vaping machine that we describe reproducibly aerosolizes e-liquids from e-cigarette atomizers under controlled conditions and is useful for testing of nicotine and toxicant delivery.

Implications

This study describes an electronic cigarette vaping machine that was assembled from commercially available parts. The vaping machine can be replicated by researchers and used under standard conditions to generate e-cigarette aerosols and characterize nicotine and toxicant delivery.

SUBMITTER: Havel CM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5896538 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

An Electronic Cigarette Vaping Machine for the Characterization of Aerosol Delivery and Composition.

Havel Christopher M CM Benowitz Neal L NL Jacob Peyton P St Helen Gideon G

Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 20171001 10

<h4>Introduction</h4>Characterization of aerosols generated by electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is one method used to evaluate the safety of e-cigarettes. While some researchers have modified smoking machines for e-cigarette aerosol generation, these machines are either not readily available, not automated for e-cigarette testing or have not been adequately described. The objective of this study was to build an e-cigarette vaping machine that can be used to test, under standard conditions, e ...[more]

PMID: 27281605

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Project description:IntroductionElectronic cigarettes (EC) have evolved rapidly toward higher powered devices that produce more vaping aerosol and a more satisfying vaping experience. This research characterized the particle size distribution and estimated the mass concentration of vaping aerosols produced at power outputs spanning the operating range typical of second generation variable voltage EC devices.MethodsEC aerosol was characterized from a single coil atomizer powered by a variable voltage EC battery at the minimum and maximum dial settings (3.3, 11.2 Watts, W), and a lab controlled power supply (3-11.9 W). Aerosol particle size distribution was measured by a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer and Aerodynamic Particle Sizer, spanning 16 nm to 19.8 ?m. A mouth puff was simulated using a 100 mL glass syringe.ResultsConsistent with prior studies, sub-micron EC aerosol size distributions were bimodal, with peaks at 40 and 200 nm, however a previously unreported third mode was observed at approximately 1000 nm. The ~1000 nm mode accounted for 7-20x the aerosol mass of the smaller modes. Increasing atomizer power decreased count concentration of particles <600 nm but increased particle count >600 nm. Particle mass distribution shifted toward micron sized particles with increasing power and increased the respirable fraction of aerosol, likely due to increased coagulation and condensation around nano-sized particles.ConclusionsVaping power greatly affects EC aerosol count and mass distribution. Mouth puffed EC aerosol spans a much wider particle size range than previously reported, although the major portion of the mass is still well within the alveolar size range the larger particles will deposit within the oro-pharyngeal cavity at 2-3x greater efficiency than in alveoli. These observations have major clinical implications, as aerosol particle size distribution determines deposition sites along the respiratory tract. The results of this experiment stress the need for further research to inform the design, regulation and use of e-cigarette products.

Project description:To investigate passive vaping due to sub-ohm electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), aerosol number size distribution measurements (6 nm-10 µm) were performed during volunteer-vaping sessions. E-liquids, with vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG), with a VG/PG ratio of 50/50 (with nicotine) and 80/20 (without nicotine), were vaped with a double-coil, single aerosol exit hole at 25-80 W electric power, corresponding to 130-365 kW m-2 heat fluxes and with an octa-coil, four aerosol exit holes atomizers, at 50-150 W electric power, corresponding to 133-398 kW m-2 heat fluxes. At the lowest heat flux, lower particle number concentrations (NTot) were observed for the nicotine-liquid than for the nicotine-free liquid, also due to its higher content of PG, more volatile than VG. For the octa-coil atomizer, at 265 and 398 kW m-2, NTot decreased below the first-generation e-cig, whereas volume concentrations greatly increased, due to the formation of super micron droplets. Higher volume concentrations were observed for the 80/20 VG/PG liquid, because of VG vaporization and of its decomposition products, greater than for PG. For the double coil atomizer, increasing the electric power from 40 W (208 kW m-2) to 80 W (365 kW m-2) possibly led to a critical heat flow condition, causing a reduction of the number concentrations for the VG/PG 50/50 liquid, an increase for the 80/20 VG/PG liquid and a decrease of the volume concentrations for both of them. Coherently, the main mode was at about 0.1 µm on both metrics for both liquids. For the other tests, two main modes (1 and 2 µm) were observed in the volume size distributions, the latter becoming wider at 100 and 150 W (265 and 398 kW m-2), suggesting the increased emission of light condensable decomposition products. The lower aerosol emissions observed at 150 W than at 100 W suggest the formation of gas-phase decomposition products. The observation of low-count high-volume aerosols addresses the relevance of the volume metric upon measuring the second-hand concentration of the aerosols released by sub-ohm e-cigarettes.

Project description:ImportanceSmoking is a known risk to wound healing, but whether electronic cigarettes present the same risk remains unknown.ObjectiveTo evaluate the rate of flap necrosis in the e-cigarette vapor-exposed group and the unexposed control and to detect a difference in the rate of flap necrosis between the traditional cigarette smoke-exposed group and the unexposed control.Design, setting, and participantsFrom March 10, 2018, to May 4, 2018, a cohort study was conducted on 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats at Boston University School of Medicine. Each rat weighed approximately 100 g at the beginning of the study and was randomized to 1 of 3 groups: negative control (n = 15), experimental (exposed to e-cigarette vapor; n = 15), and positive control (exposed to traditional cigarette smoke; n = 15). Rats in the experimental and positive control groups were exposed to electronic cigarette vapor and traditional cigarette smoke in a smoking chamber for 30 minutes twice a day for 30 consecutive days. Levels of serum cotinine were monitored and maintained between 150 ng/mL and 200 ng/mL. After 30 days, random pattern dorsal skin flaps were raised.Main outcomes and measuresPercentage of flap necrosis for each group.ResultsAll 45 rats survived the surgical procedure and postoperative recovery, and all rats thrived and gained weight over the course of the study. The highest rate of flap necrosis was found in the positive control cohort, with a mean (SD) of 68.7% (8.6%), followed by the experimental cohort, with a mean (SD) of 65.9% (11.8%); the negative control cohort had the least amount of flap necrosis, with a mean (SD) of 50.8% (9.4%). The percentage of flap necrosis in the negative control rats (95% CI, 46.0-55.6; P < .001) was substantially lower than that for both the positive control rats (95% CI, 64.3-73.0; P < .001) and the experimental rats (95% CI, 59.9-71.8; P < .001). No statistically significant difference in flap necrosis was noted between the rats in the experimental cohort and the rats in the positive control cohort (95% CI, 59.9-71.8 vs 95% CI, 64.3-73.0; P = .46).Conclusions and relevanceSmoking and vaping appear to be equally detrimental to wound healing and to be associated with a statistically significant increase in flap necrosis compared with the unexposed group. The results suggest that vaping should not be seen as a better alternative to cigarette smoking in the context of wound healing.Level of evidenceNA.

Project description:Importance:Research indicates that electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use (vaping) among adolescents is associated with the initiation and progression of combustible cigarette smoking. The reasons for this association are unknown. Objective:To evaluate whether use of e-cigarettes with higher nicotine concentrations is associated with subsequent increases in the frequency and intensity of combustible cigarette smoking and vaping. Design, Setting, and Participants:In this prospective cohort study involving students from 10 high schools in the Los Angeles, California, metropolitan area, surveys were administered during 10th grade in the spring (baseline) and 11th grade in the fall (6-month follow-up) of 2015 to students who reported using e-cigarettes within the past 30 days and the nicotine concentration level they used at baseline. Exposures:Self-report of baseline e-cigarette nicotine concentration of none (0 mg/mL), low (1-5 mg/mL), medium (6-17 mg/mL), or high (≥18 mg/mL) typically used during the past 30 days. Main Outcomes and Measures:Frequency of combustible cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use within the past 30 days (0 days [none], 1-2 days [infrequent], or ≥3 days [frequent]) and daily intensity of smoking and vaping (number of cigarettes smoked per day, number of vaping episodes per day, and number of puffs per vaping episode) at the 6-month follow-up. Results:The analytic sample included 181 students (96 boys [53.0%] and 85 girls [47.0%]; mean [SD] age, 16.1 [0.4] years). Each successive increase in nicotine concentration (none to low, low to medium, and medium to high) vaped was associated with a 2.26 (95% CI, 1.28-3.98) increase in the odds of frequent (vs no) smoking and a 1.65 (95% CI, 1.09-2.51) increase in the odds of frequent (vs no) vaping at follow-up after adjustment for baseline frequency of smoking and vaping and other relevant covariates. Use of e-cigarettes with high (vs no) nicotine concentration was associated with a greater number of cigarettes smoked per day at follow-up (adjusted rate ratio [RR], 7.03; 95% CI, 6.11-7.95). An association with a significantly greater number of vaping episodes per day was found with use of low (adjusted RR, 3.32; 95% CI, 2.61-4.03), medium (adjusted RR, 3.32; 95% CI, 2.54-4.10), and high (adjusted RR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.63-3.24) nicotine concentrations (vs no nicotine) at baseline. Similar results were found for the number of puffs per vaping episode for low (adjusted RR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.41-2.70), medium (adjusted RR, 3.39; 95% CI, 2.66-4.11), and high (adjusted RR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.42-3.03) nicotine concentrations. Conclusions and Relevance:The results of this study provide preliminary evidence that use of e-cigarettes with higher nicotine concentrations by youths may increase subsequent frequency and intensity of smoking and vaping.

Project description:BackgroundThe use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), also known as vaping, has risen exponentially among North American youth in recent years and has become a critical public health concern. The marketing strategies used by e-cigarette companies have been associated with the uptick in use among youth, with video advertisements on television and other electronic platforms being the most pervasive strategy. It is unknown how these advertisements may be tapping into youth needs and preferences.ObjectiveThe aim of this 2-phase study was to examine the marketing strategies that underpin e-cigarette advertisements, specifically in the context of television.MethodsIn phase 1, a scoping review was conducted to identify various influences on e-cigarette uptake among youth. Results of this scoping review informed the development of a coding framework. In phase 2, this framework was used to analyze the content of e-cigarette advertisements as seen on 2 popular television channels (Discovery and AMC).ResultsIn phase 1, a total of 20 articles met the inclusion criteria. The resultant framework consisted of 16 key influences on e-cigarette uptake among youth, which were categorized under 4 headings: personal, relational, environmental, and product-related. In phase 2, 38 e-cigarette advertisements were collected from iSpot.tv and represented 11 popular e-cigarette brands. All of the advertisements tapped into the cited influences of youth e-cigarette uptake, with the most commonly cited influences (product and relational) tapping into the most, at 97% (37/38) and 53% (20/38), respectively.ConclusionsThe findings highlight the multidimensional influences on youth uptake of e-cigarettes, which has important implications for developing effective antivaping messages, and assist public health professionals in providing more comprehensive prevention and cessation support as it relates to e-cigarette use. The findings also bring forward tangible strategies employed by e-cigarette companies to recruit youth into vaping. Understanding this is vital to the development of cohesive strategies that combat these provaping messages.

Dataset Information

An Electronic Cigarette Vaping Machine for the Characterization of Aerosol Delivery and Composition.

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Implications

Publications

An Electronic Cigarette Vaping Machine for the Characterization of Aerosol Delivery and Composition.

Similar Datasets

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