Characterization of puff topography of a prototype electronic cigarette in adult exclusive cigarette smokers and adult exclusive electronic cigarette users

Puff topography is an important measure of how consumers use e-vapor products. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using SODIM Smoking Puff Analyzer Mobile Device (SPA/M) to measure puff topography during use of a prototype e-cigarette (e-cig) in exclusive cigarette smokers (CS) and e-cig users (EC) under ad lib conditions in a clinic. Adult CS (n = 13) and EC (EC; n = 10) completed a 7-hr use session with the e-cig (2% tobacco-derived nicotine by weight, cartridge based system approximately the size of a king size cigarette). E-liquid usage was determined from cartridge weight. CS also smoked a single cigarette with the SPA/M. The SPA/M reliably recorded puff parameters throughout the study period, with CS puffs averaging 47.9 ± 18.2 ml volume, 2.3 ± 0.8 s duration, and 21.5 ± 4.6 ml/s flow rate. EC puffs averaged 53.4 ± 19.2 ml volume, 3.0 ± 1.3 s duration, and 19.6 ± 5.0 flow rate. CS average e-liquid use was 292 ± 214 mg and EC averaged 415 ± 305 mg over 7 h. When compared to a single use of their own brand cigarettes, CS took longer (2.3 ± 0.8 vs.1.7 ± 0.4 s) puffs with similar puff volume (47.9 ± 18.2 vs. 44.1 ± 10.5 ml) from the e-cig prototype. The puff duration, flow rate and peak flow were significantly lower (p < 0.05) with the e-cigs compared to cigarettes. Experienced EC and CS appeared to use the e-cig prototype differently, which is consistent with the literature. The SPA/M could be a useful tool in assessing e-cig use behavior for regulatory purposes.