Table 3

Levels of selected compounds in vapour generated from e–cigarettes (per 150 puffs)

CompoundBSLevels in vapour from electronic cigarettes†Reference product
Product code
EC01EC02EC03EC04EC05EC06EC07EC08EC09EC10EC11EC12Inhalator
Carbonyl compounds (μg)
 FormaldehydeND44.2±4.1*23.6±8.7*30.2±2.3*47.9±0.2*56.1±1.4*35.3±2.7*19.0±2.7*6.0±2.03.2±0.83.9±1.523.9±11.146.3±2.1*2.0±1.1
 AcetaldehydeND4.6±0.2*6.8±3.28.2±2.5*11.5±2.0*3.0±0.2*13.6±2.1*11.1±3.3*8.8±1.6*3.5±0.3*2.0±0.13.7±1.512.0±2.4*1.1±0.6
 AcroleinND41.9±3.4*4.4±2.516.6±2.5*30.1±6.4*22.0±1.6*2.1±0.4*8.5±3.60.7±0.4ND2.7±1.61.1±0.67.4±3.2*ND
 o-methylbenzaldehydeND1.9±0.54.4±1.2*3.2±1.0*4.9±1.2*1.7±0.1*7.1±0.4*1.3±0.85.5±0.0*6.0±0.7*3.2±0.5*5.1±0.1*2.2±0.6*0.7±0.4
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) (μg)
 TolueneND0.5±0.1*ND0.2±0.0*0.6±0.1*0.2±0.0*ND0.3±0.20.2±0.16.3±1.5*0.2±0.1*0.5±0.1*0.5±0.0*ND
 p,m-xylene0.10.1±0.0*ND0.1±0.0*0.2±0.1*0.1±0.0ND0.1±0.10.1±0.00.1±0.0*0.1±0.0*0.1±0.1*0.1±0.0ND
Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines (TSNAs) (ng)
 NNNNDND2.7±2.20.8±0.8NDND0.9±0.44.3±2.41.9±0.3*1.2±0.62.0±1.13.2±0.6*1.3±0.1ND
 NNKND2.0±2.03.6±1.83.5±1.8NDND1.1±1.121.1±6.3*4.6±0.4*28.3±13.22.1±2.113.0±1.4*NDND
Metals (μg)
 Cd0.020.17±0.080.15±0.03*0.15±0.050.02±0.010.04±0.010.22±0.160.02±0.010.08±0.030.01±0.010.17±0.100.03±0.03ND0.03±0.01
 Ni0.170.28±0.220.29±0.080.21±0.030.17±0.070.14±0.060.11±0.060.23±0.090.26±0.100.19±0.090.12±0.040.11±0.080.11±0.050.19±0.04
 Pb0.020.06±0.010.06±0.030.07±0.010.03±0.010.05±0.010.03±0.010.04±0.010.57±0.280.09±0.040.06±0.020.04±0.030.03±0.030.04±0.01
  • Values are mean±SEM.

  • *Significant difference with Nicorette inhalator (p<0.05).

  • †Units are μg, except for nitrosamines units are ng.

  • BS, blank sample; ND, not detected; NNK,  N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methylnitrosoamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone; NNN, N′-nitrosonornicotine; DL, detection limit.