title: Influential parameters on particle concentration and size distribution in the mainstream of e-cigarettes.
abstract: Electronic cigarette-generated mainstream aerosols were characterized in terms of particle number concentrations and size distributions through a Condensation Particle Counter and a Fast Mobility Particle Sizer spectrometer, respectively. A thermodilution system was also used to properly sample and dilute the mainstream aerosol. Different types of electronic cigarettes, liquid flavors, liquid nicotine contents, as well as different puffing times were tested. Conventional tobacco cigarettes were also investigated. The total particle number concentration peak (for 2-s puff), averaged across the different electronic cigarette types and liquids, was measured equal to 4.39 ± 0.42 × 10(9) part. cm(-3), then comparable to the conventional cigarette one (3.14 ± 0.61 × 10(9) part. cm(-3)). Puffing times and nicotine contents were found to influence the particle concentration, whereas no significant differences were recognized in terms of flavors and types of cigarettes used. Particle number distribution modes of the electronic cigarette-generated aerosol were in the 120-165 nm range, then similar to the conventional cigarette one.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, via Di Biasio 43, Cassino 03043, Italy. Electronic address: fc.fuoco@unicas.it.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Fuoco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buonanno
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stabile
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vigo
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004581:Electronics; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D012906:Smoke / Q000032:analysis*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D012906:Smoke; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Cigarette mainstream aerosol; Conventional tobacco cigarettes; E-cigarettes; Indoor air quality; Particle concentration