Disposable electronic cigarettes and electronic hookahs: evaluation of performance

Area of Science:

• Tobacco harm reduction
• Consumer product analysis
• Aerosol science

Background:

• Disposable electronic cigarettes (EC) and electronic hookahs (EH) are increasingly popular consumer products.
• Understanding their performance characteristics is crucial for public health and consumer safety.
• Previous studies have highlighted variability in e-cigarette performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize and compare the performance of disposable button-activated and airflow-activated EC and EH.
• To evaluate key performance metrics including aerosol production, pressure drop, and puff count.
• To identify factors limiting device performance and potential quality control issues.

Main Methods:

• Nine disposable EC/EH models were tested, with three units per product.
• Measurements included airflow rate for aerosol generation, pressure drop, and aerosol absorbance at 420 nm.
• Performance was assessed during simulated puffing (smoke-outs).

Main Results:

• Button-activated models required lower airflow (3 mL/s) and had lower pressure drops (6-12 mm H2O) compared to airflow-activated models (7-17 mL/s; 15-67 mm H2O).
• Aerosol absorbance was generally lower for button-activated models (0.41-0.55) than airflow-activated models (0.48-0.84).
• Actual puff counts were below advertised limits, primarily constrained by battery life, which was shorter in button-activated devices. Performance inconsistencies were noted within brands.

Conclusions:

• Device performance is primarily determined by the aerosol generation mechanism (button vs. airflow activation), not the product category (EC vs. EH).
• Airflow-activated models necessitate stronger user inhalation.
• Variability in performance and potential manufacturing quality control issues exist among disposable EC/EH brands.