NIR and THz spectroscopy: An experimental investigation toward nicotine-related devices

This study examined the content of nicotine-delivery products using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) and breath ethylene investigated with CO₂ laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (CO₂ LPAS) system as a biomarker of oxidative stress after smoking. The THz-TDS method provided valuable information on the transmission spectra of tobacco and nicotine in smoking products. From the CO₂ LPAS data it was observed that in cigarette (TC) smoking the mean breath ethylene was 687 parts per billion (ppb), while in electronic cigarettes and tobacco heating devices smoking the mean ethylene was 56 ppb and 48 ppb, respectively. The main finding was that TC showed higher transmission in the THz region producing a higher oxidative stress on the body.