PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Andrea R Vansickel
AU  - Alan Shihadeh
AU  - Thomas Eissenberg
TI  - Waterpipe tobacco products: nicotine labelling versus nicotine delivery
AID  - 10.1136/tc.2010.042416
DP  - 2012 May 01
TA  - Tobacco Control
PG  - 377--379
VI  - 21
IP  - 3
4099  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/21/3/377.short
4100  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/21/3/377.full
SO  - Tob Control2012 May 01; 21
AB  - Background Waterpipe tobacco package labelling typically indicates “0.0% tar” and “0.05% or 0.5% nicotine”.Objective To determine the extent to which nicotine labeling is related to nicotine delivery.Methods 110 waterpipe smokers engaged in a 45-minute waterpipe smoking session. Puff topography and plasma nicotine were measured. Three waterpipe tobacco brands were used: Nakhla (0.5% nicotine), Starbuzz (0.05% nicotine), and Al Fakher (0.05% nicotine). Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA.Results Topography did not differ across brands. Peak plasma nicotine varied significantly across brands. Al Fakher had the highest nicotine delivery (11.4 ng/ml) followed by Nakhla (9.8 ng/ml) and Starbuzz (5.8 ng/ml).Conclusions Nicotine labelling on waterpipe tobacco products does not reflect delivery; smoking a brand with a “0.05% nicotine” label led to greater plasma nicotine levels than smoking a brand with a “0.5% nicotine” label. Waterpipe tobacco products should be labelled in a manner that does not mislead consumers.