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Differences in flavourant levels and synthetic coolant use between USA, EU and Canadian Juul products.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Erythropel, HC; Anastas, PT; Krishnan-Sarin, S; O'Malley, SS; Jordt, SE; Zimmerman, JB
Published in: Tob Control
April 27, 2020

BACKGROUND: 'Juul' is the dominant US e-cigarette brand and was recently introduced to Canada, UK, France, Germany and Italy, with several flavours available across countries. US/Canadian products are sold with 5%, 3% and 1.5% (Canada only) nicotine content, whereas European Union (EU) regulation limits nicotine content to 1.7%. The differential nicotine content raises the question if flavour profiles and Juul device power output differ between countries. METHODS: 'Mint', 'Vanilla' and 'Mango' e-liquids from all six countries were purchased in 2019 and analysed by GC/MS for their principal flavourant and nicotine content. In addition, device power specifications were compared for devices purchased from the respective countries. RESULTS: Compositions of Juul e-liquids from the USA and Canada were identical and differed from the EU-marketed liquids, in which principal flavourant concentrations were significantly lower. EU Juul 'Mint' e-liquids contained a synthetic coolant, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide (WS-3), absent in US/Canadian products. US/Canadian 'Mango' e-liquid contained triethyl-citrate, an emulsifier. Nicotine contents matched label information, and devices had identical power specifications. CONCLUSIONS: Tested US/Canadian Juul e-liquids contained higher flavour concentrations than EU products, likely reflecting adaptation to user preferences. In EU, 'Mint' e-liquid, menthol is partially substituted with the synthetic coolant WS-3 that elicits a cooling effect like menthol but lacks its distinct 'minty' odour. The inhalational safety of WS-3 is unknown. The use of an emulsifier in US/Canadian 'Mango' Juul e-liquid may be necessary to keep the product homogeneous. Similar power specifications of devices between countries suggest that nicotine aerosol delivery is likely proportional to the e-liquid nicotine content.

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Published In

Tob Control

DOI

EISSN

1468-3318

Publication Date

April 27, 2020

Volume

30

Issue

4

Start / End Page

453 / 455

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health
 

Citation

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Chicago
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MLA
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Erythropel, H. C., Anastas, P. T., Krishnan-Sarin, S., O’Malley, S. S., Jordt, S. E., & Zimmerman, J. B. (2020). Differences in flavourant levels and synthetic coolant use between USA, EU and Canadian Juul products. Tob Control, 30(4), 453–455. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055500
Erythropel, Hanno C., Paul T. Anastas, Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, Stephanie S. O’Malley, Sven Eric Jordt, and Julie B. Zimmerman. “Differences in flavourant levels and synthetic coolant use between USA, EU and Canadian Juul products.Tob Control 30, no. 4 (April 27, 2020): 453–55. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055500.
Erythropel HC, Anastas PT, Krishnan-Sarin S, O’Malley SS, Jordt SE, Zimmerman JB. Differences in flavourant levels and synthetic coolant use between USA, EU and Canadian Juul products. Tob Control. 2020 Apr 27;30(4):453–5.
Erythropel, Hanno C., et al. “Differences in flavourant levels and synthetic coolant use between USA, EU and Canadian Juul products.Tob Control, vol. 30, no. 4, Apr. 2020, pp. 453–55. Pubmed, doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055500.
Erythropel HC, Anastas PT, Krishnan-Sarin S, O’Malley SS, Jordt SE, Zimmerman JB. Differences in flavourant levels and synthetic coolant use between USA, EU and Canadian Juul products. Tob Control. 2020 Apr 27;30(4):453–455.

Published In

Tob Control

DOI

EISSN

1468-3318

Publication Date

April 27, 2020

Volume

30

Issue

4

Start / End Page

453 / 455

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health