Effect of Third Party Components on Emissions from a Pod Style Electronic Cigarette.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) have been associated with a dramatic increase in youth becoming addicted to nicotine following decades-long decline in cigarette smoking uptake. The United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Tobacco Products is responsible for regulating devices and consumable materials associated with ENDS. State and federal regulations regarding flavoring compounds in ENDS liquids (e-liquids) may be circumvented when vendors market refillable reservoirs side-by-side with non-compliant e-liquids. This study investigated the effect of third-party refillable versus manufacturer-supplied single-use reservoirs on Total Particulate Matter (TPM) and nicotine emissions. The maximum TPM yield per puff was 5.6 times higher for the third-party (Blankz) reservoir (12.4 mg/puff) in comparison to the manufacturer's (Juul) reservoir (2.2 mg/puff), while the maximum TPM concentration was over 7 times higher for third party (0.200 mg/mL) versus manufacturer (0.028 mg/mL) pod. The third-party pod was tested with nicotine concentrations ranging from 0 to 4%. The mass ratio of nicotine present in the aerosol (mg Nic/mg TPM) was found to be approximately the same as the mass ratio of the e-liquid (mg Nic/mg e-liquid) for both pods and all three nicotine laden e-liquids tested. Toxicant exposure may increase when consumers use third-party pods with ENDS devices. Refillable reservoirs are a significant barrier to regulatory restrictions on potentially toxic additives to e-liquids. It is recommended FDA/CTP require emissions characterization of third-party reservoirs used with each ENDS they are compatible with and should be required to demonstrate no increased potential toxicant exposure in comparison to manufacturer-provided reservoirs.