Puffing topography: a tool to evaluate vaping behavior and exposure risks

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Toxicology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) popularity is rising among youth and adults.
• Vaping behavior, termed puffing topography (PT), involves puff duration, flow rate, and session length.
• PT metrics are crucial for assessing exposure to nicotine, VOCs, and particulate matter.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review critical aspects of puffing topography (PT).
• To explore how factors like lifestyle, gender, e-liquid composition, and device parameters influence exposure risks.
• To highlight the importance of standardizing PT for ENDS safety and public health.

Main Methods:

• Literature review summarizing current evidence on puffing topography.
• Analysis of factors influencing ENDS usage patterns and exposure.
• Discussion on the role of PT in developing ENDS standards.

Main Results:

• Puff volume and flow rate are key determinants of hazardous emission exposure.
• Vaping behavior is influenced by age of initiation, nicotine strength, and circadian patterns.
• Lifestyle, gender, e-liquid characteristics, and device design impact exposure risks.

Conclusions:

• Standardizing puffing topography is essential for evaluating vaping behavior and toxicant exposure.
• Standardized PT can aid in developing consensus standards for ENDS.
• This approach is vital for protecting public health from ENDS-related risks.