How Much Nicotine is in an E- Cigarette?

Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical derived from plants. Nitrogen is the major component of the nicotine and derived from tobacco plants and other such plants from the nightshade family. It is not extremely harmful if consumed in minimal quantities and also does not cause cancer. However, nicotine consumption creates a yearning for regular use and, in turn, becomes an addiction that is extremely hard to forgo. Smoking is the most common method of nicotine consumption. According to the World Health Organization report, regular tobacco smokes around the world account for more than 1 billion.

The first time in 1880, they patented the equipment for mass production of paper cigarettes. The ease in the production process made cigarettes widely available, and tobacco consumption eventually increased multi-folds. People gradually started recognizing the harmful effects of nicotine only by the end of the 19th century. The widespread addiction for cigarettes arose the suspension to test the factors triggering the same. Nicotine was brought under the study by lawmakers from various states. It was finally in 1964 that the United States surgeon general reported the direct relationship between nicotine and heart and lung diseases in the users. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration department in 1994, declared that nicotine is an addictive drug.

When nicotine enters the human body:

Nicotine, when consumed, stimulates various internal organs of the human body. Firstly, nicotine increases the adrenaline secretion in the body. Such activity in the adrenaline gland accelerates the blood pressure, heartbeat rate, and increases the blood glucose levels and breathing levels. The person feels a sudden rush, which is commonly called a kick. The next impact happens to the pancreas. The pancreas begins to secrete lower levels of insulin and, in turn, mildly increases the blood sugar level. 

The consumption of nicotine also triggers the pleasure areas of the brain. The brain releases dopamine, which causes an experience similar to the use of cocaine or heroin. The person begins to experience contentment due to the increased levels of dopamine secretion. The nicotine, if consumed in high concentrations, can also affect the neural system and can cause sedation. On the flip side, the consumption of nicotine can also create a reduction in anxiety levels and improved focus and memory power.

Nicotine in traditional cigarettes:

The cigarettes come in multiple levels of nicotine content and allow smokers to choose as per their requirements. The level of nicotine consumption is directly related to the frequency of smoking rather than which brand produces those products. A survey by Behavioral Endocrinology Laboratory at Penn State University in 2017 reveals that there are 7.5 milligrams to 13.4 milligrams of nicotine in a conventional cigarette. However, barely 1 milligram gets absorbed into the human body. Another study conducted by the scientists in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that there are 19.2 milligrams of nicotine in 1 gram of tobacco, on average amongst all leading brands of cigarettes. Additional chemicals are added to the tobacco products to increase the level of nicotine contained in each cigarette. The nicotine can also enter the nervous system and mix in the blood through the nose, mouth, skin, and lungs.

Nicotine in e-cigarettes:

E-cigarettes are also known as "electronic nicotine delivery systems" (ENDS). It is a relatively less risky alternative to conventional cigarettes. The e-cigarettes contain eliquid nicotine and which vaporizes on a click or trigger. The vaping devices use the phenomenon of heating the nicotine liquid rather than burning it. Such heating eliminates the risk of oxidation on burning and hence is less harmful. The amount of nicotine contained in a vaping device is dependent on various factors. Primarily, labels on the vaping devices could be misleading. Multiple studies have found that mislabelling as one of the concerns commonly prevalent in vaping devices.

Further, nicotine consumption depends on the individual user. The number of puffs taken, the duration of each puff, and the intensity of inhalation are factors that determine how much nicotine is consumed by the individual. Some leading brands use nicotine salts in their vape liquid. The use of salts reduces the pH level of the liquid and thereby provides a higher concentration of nicotine to be delivered. Such high levels of nicotine in the vape liquids could sometimes be similar to that of a conventional cigarette. The concerning issue is that as per the study published in 2018, by the Truth Initiative in Tobacco Control, up to 63 percent of the youth population who use vaping devices are unaware of the presence of nicotine in the liquid and the potential harm it could cause to their health. 

The average nicotine content in an e-cigarette ranges from 3 milligrams to 54 milligrams, which is less nicotine per puff than a conventional cigarette. While certain brands use milligrams as per unit of measure for the nicotine content, some brands prefer to use Nicotine By Volume (NBV) as their standard unit of measure. They believe that NBV is a better unit of measure since the e-cigarettes contain vape liquids, where volume is the standard unit of measure.

Calculation of nicotine content:

Despite the information provided by the brand on their product labels, as informed customers, it is essential to understand how to calculate the nicotine content present in a vaping device. The commonly used expression of the nicotine content in vape juices is percentage or milligrams per milliliter of vape juice. The easiest way to understand the percentage content is by dividing the milligrams per milliliter by 10. Now that we have arrived at the percentage of nicotine content, it is also crucial to understand the equivalent content in a conventional cigarette. As a general rule, 1 milliliter of vape juice liquid can provide 100 hits. It means that the experience is similar to smoking ten cigarettes. Therefore, for example, when your vaping device contains 5 milliliters of vape juice, it means the device can last as much as 50 cigarettes. The computation mentioned above is highly dependent on various factors such as the style of vaping, the duration of puff, and whether the vape juice contains additional nicotine salts, and so on. The purpose of the computation was to provide a rough idea of comparing a vaping experience to a conventional cigarette. When the vape juice contains nicotine salts, the concentration of nicotine could go up to 50 milligrams per liter or even more. On average, the vape device users prefer vape juices with nicotine levels between 3 milligrams and 15 milligrams per milliliter; heavy smokes could also prefer vale juices that have nicotine up to 24 milligrams per milliliter. 

Nicotine in Nicotine replacement products (NRPs):

Nicotine replacement products cater to the needs of those trying to quit smoking. Regular consumption of nicotine has made it difficult for those smokers to leave all of a sudden. These NRPs assist in the gradual transformation of being a non- smoker. The NRPs are available in the form of nicotine patches that you can position in contact with the skin. These products eliminate the need to inhale the chemicals. The nicotine on the spots can seep into the skin and can get absorbed into the bloodstream. These patches, when brought in contact with the skin, can periodically deliver specific amounts of nicotine into the bloodstream during 24 hours. Traditionally, each nicotine patch contains 5 milligrams to 22 milligrams of nicotine.

NRPs are also available in the form of nicotine gums and lozenges. These are taken through chewing and inhalation, respectively. They provide a much quicker effect since the nicotine intake takes place through the nose and mouth. These are generally available in dosages of 2 milligrams to 4 milligrams. NRPs are also available in the form of nasal sprays and inhalers, which is a similar method of consumption as compared to conventional cigarettes. However, the nicotine levels are as low as 1 milligram to 2 milligrams per product. 

Impact of nicotine:

The consumers of nicotine know how much nicotine they need for their bodies. It happens in a subconscious process where they tend to stop or gradually reduce the use of cigarettes when their nicotine requirements reach optimum. Such signals from the brains minimize the risk of overdosage. Whether a person smokes from a cigarette or a vape, the impact of nicotine on their bodies is the same. Nicotine consumption can cause racing heart, anxiety, headache, nausea, insomnia, cold sweats, ringing ears, and dizziness. Self- titration is an act of self-analysis of how much nicotine the body can deal with, and such analysis can assist in dealing with the side effects of nicotine dosages.

For those who simply want a vaping experience and are not interested in consuming nicotine, even at negligible levels, there are vape juices that come with no nicotine content. For those who are trying their best to give up nicotine consumption but are not able to eliminate it, can try vape juices that contain 3 milligrams to 6 milligrams of nicotine per milliliter of vape juice. This is mild enough and can slowly give up their craving for tobacco consumption. Visit Ecig Mafia to buy best and affordable vapes and vape accessories.