Counterfeit Electronic Cigarette Products with Mislabeled Nicotine Concentrations

Area of Science:

• Tobacco Control
• Analytical Chemistry
• Consumer Product Safety

Background:

• E-cigarette refill fluids are widely available globally.
• Accurate labeling of nicotine content is crucial for consumer safety and regulatory compliance.
• The prevalence of counterfeit products in the e-cigarette market remains a concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare nicotine concentrations in e-cigarette refill fluids labeled as 0 mg/mL across four countries.
• To identify and characterize counterfeit e-cigarette products based on physical differences and nicotine content.

Main Methods:

• 125 e-cigarette refill fluids were purchased from Nigeria, the US, England, and China.
• Nicotine concentrations were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
• Products were visually inspected for physical differences to distinguish authentic from counterfeit items.

Main Results:

• Nicotine was detected in 51.7% of Nigerian, 3.7% of Chinese, and 1.6% of American refill fluids labeled 0 mg/mL.
• No nicotine was found in 8 British products.
• Counterfeit products from Nigeria with nicotine levels exceeding 3.7 mg/mL were identified, while lower levels (0.4-0.6 mg/mL) in products from China, the US, and Nigeria were authentic.

Conclusions:

• The study identified novel issues: brandjacked counterfeit refill fluids and nicotine presence in 81.3% of counterfeit products labeled 0 mg/mL.
• These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced control and monitoring of nicotine-containing products and their sales channels.
• Regulatory bodies and manufacturers must address the proliferation of counterfeit e-cigarette products to ensure public health and safety.