The nicotine absorption contradiction

[DC2]

For years the prevailing belief is that we are getting significantly less nicotine from vaping than from smoking.
Some estimates have ranged as low as 10% and some as high as 40% or even higher.

We have evidence from some studies that novice vapers are getting little to no nicotine.
And we have evidence from other studies that experienced vapers CAN get significant nicotine, in some cases almost as much as smoking.

So we have people going through 5ml per day of 18mg juice, which would be the equivalent of almost 5 packs of smokes.
Some go through even more juice per day, and some use even higher strength than 18mg.

And yet, it is quite possible that even these people are not getting much more nicotine than they did when smoking.
And they certainly were not smoking 5 packs per day.


Then we have the discussions about whether or not we are exhaling nicotine into the environment.
Most research is saying that we do not exhale appreciable amounts, implying that we are absorbing almost all of it.

So are we absorbing all of it or not?
If not, where is the rest going?

I think it is possible that significant amounts of nicotine may not make it into the vapor in the first place.
Perhaps that gunk the builds up on your atomizer includes not only flavoring and coloring compounds, but also nicotine.

Has anybody seen any research on what percentage of nicotine is making it into the vapor?

[OnnaB]

Thats a point I worry about. I vape all day long....and I am concerned that I may be getting too much nicotine. I'd like to see some studies on this as well....

[TheSneakerHoarder]

My_only_addition_would_be_this:

@12mg--vape_all_day--no_nic-sick.

I_hit_36mg_for_10_minutes--WOAH!!!!!

It_might_be_internal_absorption_variation--not_juice_mg.

[Eagle Talon]

six times greater than analog cigarette- molecular size
Thus the absorption is much less reason !

[Punkndrublic]

six times greater than analog cigarette- molecular size
Thus the absorption is much less reason !

I totally agree with this theory.

[AttyPops]

Good points DC2.

I have a hard time even remotely believing that we don't exhale most of the nic. The concept that exhaled vape is somehow stripped of nicotine (that was in solution) but we can exhale much of the PG/VG/Flavorings/Water vapor back out... nah. The nic is still in the droplets of the condensate that doesn't make contact with mouth/throat/nose/bronchial tubes/lung tissue.... not magically vanishing into our systems out of the droplets.

Same reason exhaled "air" still contains a lot of (but not as much) oxygen.

Also, the ammonification of cigs increased the effective hit of the nic as I understand it (which is very little understanding on my part). So it may be the nic was more effective with cigs.

Best guesses.

[Sdh]

I believe many factors exist on how one absorbs nicotine. Here is a very long read but does contain some fun facts.

Metabolism and Disposition Kinetics of Nicotine

[Eagle Talon]

e-cigarette in the support material PG and VG. these oils, which is in the water (in blood) is not resolved! This fact is important

[AttyPops]

I wish I understood that better Eagle.

I should also add that inhaling then exhaling vapor greatly expands the volume. The effective concentration (per square cm) would be way less. Basically "diluted by the air"... but that doesn't speak to total nic absorption/exhalation... in total, not by volume.

Best guess again.

[myxomatosis]

Not really interested in "long reads" atm, but a reader's digest explaination would be appreciated. I've wondered myself for quite some time how much nicotine absorbtion occurs vs traditional cigarettes. I use 4-6mg nic usually, and I've rationalized it this way in my head (although it's very possible I'm way off).

When I smoke 12mg of nic, I equate that to a "light" cigarette. When I smoke cigarettes (dun, dun, duhhh) I smoke ultra-lights, so I try to dial my juice down to 4-6mg. But the difference is I don't know if these compare because I vape ALL DAY vs every hour with regular smokes. I do know that when I go up to 18+mg it's uncomfortable for me and I don't vape nearly as often because of that.

Very curious to see if any research has been done regarding this!