Skip to main content
TSRC, Tob. Sci. Res. Conf., 2016, 70, abstr. 68 (also presented at CORESTA 2016)

Do temperature regulated e-cigarettes prevent the formation of thermal decomposition products under dry wick conditions?

GILLMAN I.G.; HUMPHRIES K.E.
Enthalpy Analytical, Durham, NC, USA

The study objective was to determine if temperature regulated e-cigarette (TR-EC) devices could reduce the formation of thermal decomposition products under simulated “dry wick” conditions. Three different TR-EC devices were evaluated under two conditions: 1) Aerosol samples were collected under normal conditions with a full tank of e-liquid. 2) Aerosol samples were collected under simulated “dry wick” conditions in which the e-liquid was removed from the tank prior to collection. For comparison, samples were also collected from non-TR-EC devices under the same two conditions. Aerosol samples were collected with all TR devices set to 230°C using an analytical smoking machine set to deliver a 55 mL puff with a four second duration. Aerosol samples were analysed for the production of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein under each condition. These results were used to estimate daily exposure to formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein from EC aerosols and were compared to estimated exposure from consumption of cigarettes and to occupational and work place limits. All devices yielded low levels of aldehydes under normal, full tank, conditions. However, the two non-TR-EC devices produced higher levels of aldehydes under simulated “dry wick” conditions. The ability of the TR-EC devices to limit the formation of thermal decomposition products under “dry wick” conditions varied greatly between the devices. A comparison between the TR and non-TR devices will be presented along with information on how coil construction may affect the ability of TR devices to limit the formation of thermal decomposition products under “dry wick” conditions.