Comparison of nicotine emissions rate, 'nicotine flux', from heated, electronic and combustible tobacco products: data, trends and recommendations for regulation

Introduction Tobacco smoking is a major cause of disease and premature death worldwide. While nicotine is recognised as the main addictive component in tobacco smoke, the total nicotine amount emitted (nicotine yield) and the rate of nicotine emission per second ('nicotine flux') contribute to the abuse liability of a given product. These variables can be regulated for public health ends and conveniently so for electronic cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Methods In this study we computed nicotine flux from previously reported values of yield and puff topography for a wide range of tobacco products. Results We found that nicotine flux varied widely across tobacco products, from less than 0.1 mu g/s to more than 100 mu g/s, and that since 2015 the upper limit of the ENDS nicotine flux range has risen significantly and is now approaching that of combustible cigarettes. We also found that products that differ in nicotine flux may exhibit similar nicotine yields due to differences in user puffing behavior. Nicotine flux is a tool that can be used to regulate nicotine emissions of tobacco products, including ENDS.