One of the most common questions about an electric cig relates to which e-liquid nicotine strength is equivalent to a particular kind of cigarette that a person smokes. To better answer this question, it is better to understand how much nicotine is contained in the E-Liquid you are inhaling.
We define the density of nicotine inside E-Liquid as the followings:
- Non nicotine: 0 mg nicotine, which equivalents to No Nicotine.
- Low density: 6 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Ultra Light Strength Cigarettes.
- Medium density: 12 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Medium Strength Cigarettes.
- High density: 18 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Regular Strength Cigarettes.
- XHigh density: 24 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Strong Cigarettes.
- XXHigh density: 36 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Very Strong Cigarettes.
- XXXHigh density: 48 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Super Strong Cigarettes.
The nicotine density listed for e-liquid is the number of milligrams of nicotine per milliliter in the E-Liquid. That means a 10ml bottle of 24mg nicotine e-liquid would have 240mg of nicotine in it (24mg x 10ml). Likewise, a 30ml bottle of 24mg e-liquid would have 720mg of nicotine in it (24mg x 30ml).
Different brands of cigarettes vary in terms of their nicotine content. Normally nicotine constitutes approximately 0.6-3.0% of dry weight of tobacco in a cigarette. Obviously a longer 100ml cigarette has more nicotine in it than a standard or king size 84ml cigarette. For the most part, though, here is, for example, the amount of nicotine that is in a typical 84ml tobacco cigarette:
If you smoke Regular cigarettes, like a Marlboro Red, for instance, there are approximately 1.2mg of nicotine in each cigarette, or 24mg of nicotine per pack (1.2mg x 20 cigarettes).
If you smoke Light cigarettes, like a Marlboro Light, for instance, there are approximately 0.7mg of nicotine in each cigarette, or 14mg of nicotine per pack (0.7mg x 20 cigarettes).
If you smoke Ultra Light cigarettes, like a Marlboro Ultra Light, for instance, there are approximately 0.5mg of nicotine in each cigarette, or 10mg of nicotine per pack (0.5mg x 20 cigarettes).
When you refill your e-cartridges with e-liquid, you may need to know how much nicotine is contained in your refilling e-liquid. There are approximately 20 drops of e-liquid per milliliter. So, using our 24mg nicotine e-liquid once again as an example, there would be 1.2mg of nicotine per drop (24mg/20 drops). So, if you put three drops of e-liquid onto a e-cartridge (or directly onto the atomizer for those of you that direct-drip), that means you will be taking in 3.6mg of nicotine from the time you start vaping until you top off again.
The amount as well as the feeling of the nicotine absorbed by the body from electronic cigarette smoking depends on many factors, including the density of the nicotine in e-liquid, the eclectronic cigarette vaporing quantity, the smoking frequency and timing, and the smoking inhaling respiration.
Actually the nicotine in the E-Liquid can not be absorbed completely by the smoker. For instance, if you inhale 1 ml of E-Liquid which contains 24 mg of nicotine, that does not mean that you absorb all the 24 mg of nicotine. You may only absorb about 50-80% of the nicotine according to your personal smoking habit.
It should be noted that, although it is highly addictive, no studies have shown nicotine to be a carcinogen. It is simply the fix that cigarette smokers crave. It is recommended that those who have a demonstrated sensitivity to nicotine, are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have unstable heart conditions, should discuss the use of any E-Liquid with a doctor before using.
