Abstract from the paper:
RUYAN NICOTINE ELECTRONIC INHALER/
E-CIGARETTE: BENCH-TOP TESTS
Murray Laugesen, M.B.Ch.B.*, Health New Zealand Ltd
Background: These flameless electronic devices, marketed as cigarette substitutes,
claim to provide nicotine without smoke toxicants. Is this claim justified?
Aim: To assess the Ruyan e-inhaler and its mist for safety and dose. Method
Mist, cartridge liquid, and headspace above liquid, tested in various (8) laboratories.
Smoking machine (50 mL puff for 2 seconds every 30 seconds) compares
puff chemistry of Ruyan 16 mg nicotine e-inhaler with 18 mg nicotine mini e-cigarette
inhaler. Propylene glycol and inhaled nicotine tested and safety reviewed.
Results: Chemistry. Ruyan mist is 82% propylene glycol, 15% water, 1% freebased
nicotine, and 2% particulates and flavours, formed without combustion.
Cartridges labeled 16 mg nicotine, contained 13 mg. Per puff nicotine was 0.009
mg. (Minibrand 0.048 mg.) Toxicology and safety. Cigarette toxicants, including
carbon monoxide were absent, or found in very low concentrations. Heavy metals
were not detectable. Trace levels of tobacco specific nitrosamines were similar to
the levels found in medicinal nicotine. Monoamine oxidase inhibitor, effect, found
in tobacco smoke extract; absent.
Conclusions: Nicotine e-inhalers varied by per-puff nicotine, but delivered much
less per puff than a regular cigarette. The inhaled mist has a safety profile akin to
a medicinal nicotine inhaler. Personal use imports should be allowed until some
brands qualify for retail sale, as cigarette substitute, medicinal inhaler, or both.
Ruyan(Holdings) Ltd Beijing funded Health NZ to carry out the tests. British
American Tobacco GR&D (UK) independently analysed the mist.
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Murray Laugesen, M.B.Ch.B., Public Health
Physician, Health New Zealand Ltd (address, phone removed)