Nicotine levels in emissions from heat sticks without tobacco exceed health-based advisory values: A chemical-analytical study.

IF 2.4 4区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Tobacco Induced Diseases Pub Date : 2026-07-24 eCollection Date: 2026-01-01 DOI:10.18332/tid/219209

Charlotte G G M Pauwels, Caroline Versluis, Reinskje Talhout, Anne Havermans

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Heated tobacco products (HTP) are tobacco-containing sticks that have been on the market for some time and are heated in a device to release a nicotine-containing aerosol for inhalation. Recently, new sticks have emerged that contain nicotine but no tobacco and are available in several flavors. These nicotine sticks closely resemble tobacco sticks in appearance and use, but contain nicotine, a non-tobacco carrier such as cellulose or Rooibos tea leaves, and other additives, including flavorings. As they do not contain tobacco, these products are currently not regulated under the European Union Tobacco Products Directive (EU TPD). Since the nicotine levels in these products are unknown, this study aimed to measure the nicotine concentrations in both the contents and emissions of nicotine heat stick brands marketed in the Netherlands.

Methods: This chemical-analytical study was conducted in March 2025. Two flavor variants from two major brands were analyzed for nicotine content in both sticks and emissions. Emissions were generated and collected with a smoking machine following the World Health Organization (WHO) Intense regime. All extracts were analyzed for nicotine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results: All sticks contained nicotine (3.2-3.8 mg per stick), with no detectable 6-methylnicotine. Emissions analysis showed each stick released 0.7-1.0 mg nicotine under standardized conditions.

Conclusions: Nicotine heat sticks without tobacco deliver nicotine doses comparable to HTPs. The measured levels exceed health-based advisory values for nicotine exposure from nicotine products without tobacco for inhalation, as reported by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), by a factor of 18-25. If these advisory values are implemented in tobacco legislation, nicotine heat sticks products will no longer be permitted. These limits would apply to all nicotine products without tobacco for inhalation that are not covered by the EU TPD, except e-cigarettes.

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不含烟草的加热棒散发出的尼古丁含量超过了基于健康的咨询值：一项化学分析研究。

导读：加热烟草制品（HTP）是在市场上销售了一段时间的含烟草棒，在设备中加热以释放含尼古丁的气溶胶供吸入。最近，一种含有尼古丁但不含烟草的新型香烟出现了，并且有几种口味可供选择。这些尼古丁棒在外观和用途上与烟草棒非常相似，但含有尼古丁，一种非烟草载体，如纤维素或路易波士茶叶，以及其他添加剂，包括调味品。由于不含烟草，这些产品目前不受欧盟烟草制品指令（EU TPD）的管制。由于这些产品中的尼古丁含量未知，本研究旨在测量荷兰市场上销售的尼古丁热棒品牌的内容物和排放物中的尼古丁浓度。方法：于2025年3月进行化学分析研究。研究人员分析了来自两个主要品牌的两种香精的尼古丁含量。按照世界卫生组织（世卫组织）的严格制度，用吸烟机产生和收集排放物。采用气相色谱-质谱联用分析各提取物的尼古丁含量。结果：含尼古丁（3.2 ~ 3.8 mg /支），未检出6-甲基尼古丁。排放分析表明，在标准条件下，每支烟释放0.7-1.0 mg尼古丁。结论：不含烟草的尼古丁热棒提供的尼古丁剂量与热压热压棒相当。根据荷兰国家公共卫生与环境研究所（RIVM）的报告，测量到的水平超出了无烟草吸入的尼古丁产品中尼古丁暴露的健康咨询值，高出18-25倍。如果这些建议值在烟草立法中得到实施，尼古丁热贴产品将不再被允许。这些限制将适用于欧盟TPD未涵盖的所有不含烟草的吸入尼古丁产品，但电子烟除外。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Tobacco Induced Diseases SUBSTANCE ABUSE-PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

5.40%

发文量

审稿时长

12 weeks

期刊介绍： Tobacco Induced Diseases encompasses all aspects of research related to the prevention and control of tobacco use at a global level. Preventing diseases attributable to tobacco is only one aspect of the journal, whose overall scope is to provide a forum for the publication of research articles that can contribute to reducing the burden of tobacco induced diseases globally. To address this epidemic we believe that there must be an avenue for the publication of research/policy activities on tobacco control initiatives that may be very important at a regional and national level. This approach provides a very important "hands on" service to the tobacco control community at a global scale - as common problems have common solutions. Hence, we see ourselves as "connectors" within this global community. The journal hence encourages the submission of articles from all medical, biological and psychosocial disciplines, ranging from medical and dental clinicians, through health professionals to basic biomedical and clinical scientists.