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Research letter
Variable and potentially fatal amounts of nicotine in e-cigarette nicotine solutions
  1. Jennifer M Cameron1,
  2. Donelle N Howell1,
  3. John R White2,
  4. David M Andrenyak3,4,
  5. Matthew E Layton1,
  6. John M Roll1
  1. 1College of Nursing, Program of Excellence in the Addictions, Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA
  2. 2Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA
  3. 3College of Pharmacy, Center for Human Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
  4. 4College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Donelle N Howell, Program of Excellence in Addictions, Nursing, Washington State University, PO BOX 1495, Spokane, WA 99210-1495, USA; dnhowell{at}wsu.edu

https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050604

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    Experimental research on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is sparse. Regulated as tobacco products by the US Food and Drug Administration, e-cigarette safety has not been determined. This enables the sale of e-cigarettes and tobacco-derived nicotine solution to consumers without rigorous safety regulations that would be required if the products were regulated as drug delivery devices.1 As such, despite the recent popularity of e-cigarettes as an alternative to cigarette smoking, consumers currently do not have industry-regulated information on the concentration of e-cigarette solutions or their safety.1 The present study reports the nicotine concentration of several of these solutions.

    Methods

    A convenience sample of seven e-cigarette nicotine solutions was analysed. Samples ranged from prepackaged and sealed with concentration levels printed on the labels to blank bottles with hand-written labels with no concentration level, warning statements or directions for use. Samples A and G were marked as 24 mg/ml and unmarked samples (B–F) were analysed using the expected nicotine concentration levels for ‘Super High’, ‘High’, ‘Medium’ and ‘Low’ categories based on information from the manufacturer's website (see table 1). Triplicate 0.05 ml aliquots were taken from each sample of nicotine solution and then serially diluted with Milli-Q water. Samples were analysed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry.2

    View this table:
    Table 1

    Replicate and mean nicotine concentration analyses for e-cigarette nicotine solutions

    Results

    All e-cigarette nicotine solutions assayed contained nicotine, as advertised. For all samples, the amount of nicotine present (mg/ml) was equivalent to or lower than what was marked or expected given the manufacturer concentration ranges provided (see table 1). Even at lower levels of nicotine than expected given manufacturer specifications, these nicotine solutions could be toxic or lethal if taken other than directed.

    Discussion

    The nicotine concentration range of e-cigarette solutions varies by manufacturer, as there is no standard dose for each strength category (eg, low, high). A consumer purchasing nicotine solution marked as ‘high’ could receive a solution with substantial variability in nicotine concentration depending on manufacturer/distributor. Similar variability in nicotine concentrations was also found in a recent study.3 Together, these findings support calls to improve standardisation and manufacturing practices.4

    The fatal dose of nicotine is estimated at 30–60 mg in adults and 10 mg in children (see Etter et al, 2011, p. 245).4 Our results confirm e-cigarette solutions contain nicotine doses that are potentially lethal in adults and children. For example, a 5 ml vial of a 20 mg/ml solution contains 100 mg of nicotine. Reports of unintentional poisoning in children via tobacco (cigarette butts)5 and smokeless tobacco products (Orbs, snus)6 suggest minor toxicity (eg, vomiting, nausea, tachycardia) in most cases. However, the amount of nicotine in commonly sold 5, 10 or 20 ml vials poses a greater toxicity or fatality risk in children if ingested orally or absorbed transdermally. This is particularly concerning as e-cigarette nicotine solutions come in flavours attractive to children (eg, cotton candy, bubble gum).

    We believe nicotine solutions should be regulated and accurately labelled with appropriate warnings and recommend healthcare providers screen for use of e-cigarettes and warn of potential dangers, particularly of toxicity risk in children.

    Acknowledgments

    We thank Krista Panerio, BA, and Julie Scholer, MPA, from Spokane Regional Health District for their consultation and expert assistance. We would also like to acknowledge Dr David Moody at the University of Utah for his efforts in reviewing the analytical data and generating the analytical report.

    References

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      U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. E-cigarettes. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2011. http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm172906.htm (accessed 12 Feb 2012).
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      . A novel validated procedure for the determination of nicotine, eight nicotine metabolites and two minor tobacco alkaloids in human plasma or urine by solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B: Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2010;878:725–37.
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      1. Goniewicz ML,
      2. Kuma T,
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      . Nicotine levels in electronic cigarettes. Nicotine Tob Res 2013;15:158–166.
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      1. Etter JF,
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      . Electronic nicotine delivery systems: a research agenda. Tobacco Control 2011;20:243–8.
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      1. Connolly GN,
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    Footnotes

    • Contributors All authors of this research contributed in a significant way to the manuscript and have read and approved the final manuscript. Authors had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

    • Funding This investigation was supported in part by funds provided for medical and biological research by the State of Washington Initiative Measure No. 171 (WSU Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program) and by funds from the Department of Justice CKWX0042, PI: John Roll (WSU Program of Excellence in the Addictions)..

    • Competing interests None.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.