Objective: This study's objective was to characterize the nicotine delivery profile of a variable voltage, tank-style electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS).
Methods: Ten cigarette smokers (8 men, 2 women) completed this within-subject study assessing effects of 2 device power settings (15 W, 45 W) and 3 liquid nicotine concentrations (0, 3, and 6 mg/ml) using a tank-style ENDS. Participants completed one directed (10 puffs) and one ad libitum use period for each condition, with blood sampled throughout.
Results: Plasma nicotine concentration did not increase significantly at 15 W regardless of liquid nicotine concentration. At 45 W, mean plasma nicotine increased (not significantly compared to 0 mg/ml) from 2.24 ng/ml (SD=0.2) at baseline to 3.4 ng/ml (SD=0.6) in the 3 mg/ml condition. In the 6 mg/ml, 45 W condition, mean plasma nicotine increased significantly (compared to 0 mg/ml) from 2.0 ng/ml (SD=0) at baseline to 5.96 ng/ml (SD=1.3) after 10 puffs. In general, puff duration and volume decreased as device power and nicotine concentration increased.
Conclusions: Despite using a variable wattage, tank-style device, nicotine delivery was minimal. These results, when combined with results from other studies using tank-style devices, highlight ENDS performance heterogeneity. Regulation may play a role in standardizing ENDS nicotine delivery.
Keywords: ENDS; nicotine delivery.