American Association for Aerosol Research - Abstract Submission

AAAR 34th Annual Conference
October 12 - October 16, 2015
Hyatt Regency
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

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Effect of Liquid Composition on Particle Size Distribution and Nicotine Yield of Electronic Cigarette Aerosols

Mohamad Baassiri, Soha Talih, Nareg Karaoghlanian, Rola Salman, Najat A. Saliba, Rachel El Hage, ALAN SHIHADEH, American University of Beirut

Abstract Number: 319
Working Group: Health Related Aerosols

Abstract
Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) heat and vaporize a solution of nicotine in propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG). Reports of nicotine delivery associated with ECIG use vary widely. Some studies report negligible boosts in plasma nicotine levels while others report combustible cigarette-like delivery. Variables affecting nicotine delivery may include the total mass and particle size distribution (PSD) of the ECIG aerosol from a given product. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of PG/VG ratio on nicotine yield and PSD of ECIG mainstream aerosol. Aerosols were machine-generated from a tank-type ECIG using 10 solutions spanning a range of 100/0 to 0/100 PG/VG. The ECIG power and puffing regimen were held constant. Total particulate matter (TPM) was measured gravimetrically and PSD produced using 3 different solvent ratios (100/0, 70/30, and 0/100) were measured using a fast electrical mobility spectrometer and a cascade impactor. Nicotine yields were measured using GC-MS. It was found that TPM and nicotine yields increased with greater liquid PG concentration. On average, 76±7% of the aerosol mass fell in the 0.5-1µm size range, and mass mean diameter ranged between 700-880 nm for the three solvent ratios. The particle number distribution mode was approximately 200 nm in the 0/100 case and 100 nm in the 100/0 case. It can be concluded that for a given nicotine liquid concentration, electrical power input, and puff regimen, greater PG content will result in greater nicotine emissions and aerosol concentration. Measured variations in PSD are likely not large enough to impact aerosol delivery.