Nicotine absorption: How do smoking and vaping compare?

When you switch to vaping, one of the first things you might wish to know is just how much e-liquid you need to vape to relieve your cravings.

Perhaps you are wondering how many puffs might be equivalent to smoking one cigarette.

It is difficult to compare vaping to smoking. The amount of nicotine in both e-liquids and cigarettes varies and there are other factors that will influence just how much nicotine you will absorb.

How much nicotine is there in one cigarette?

The exact amount of nicotine in a cigarette varies according to the brand.

A traditional cigarette typically contains between 6 milligrams (mg) and 28 mg of nicotine, with the average cigarette containing 10 to 12 mg. However, a large portion of the nicotine is released into the air as the cigarette burns.

On average, you will inhale 1.5 mg of nicotine when you smoke a cigarette. If you smoke a pack of 20 cigarettes, you will therefore inhale 30 mg. However, it is important to note that all people do not smoke cigarettes the same way.

For example, many low-yield cigarettes have perforated papers that are intended to decrease the amount of nicotine inhaled. When those cigarettes are analysed for their nicotine content, the analysts use puff machines that leave the perforations uncovered.

But many people cover the perforations with their fingers when smoking light cigarettes. In addition, some smokers will take more draws than other from each cigarette.

How much nicotine is in a bottle of e-liquid?

Whilst the nicotine content of a cigarette is hard to assess, determining the nicotine content of a bottle of e-liquid is straightforward.

The nicotine strengths of e-liquids are printed on their labels. Those strengths are expressed in milligrams per millilitre. Therefore, the total amount of nicotine in a bottle is the nicotine strength multiplied by the number of millilitres. A 10ml bottle of 6mg e-liquid will contain 60mg of nicotine.

How many puffs are equal to smoking a cigarette?

The answer to this question, again, varies widely. The type of e-liquid you vape, the device you use, and your technique will impact nicotine absorption. It is hard to make even rough comparisons.

Which factors influence nicotine absorption?

Absorption When Smoking

The body absorbs more nicotine when you smoke a cigarette than when you vape e-liquid as demonstrated by several studies.

A study funded by the American E-Liquid Manufacturing Standards Association (AEMSA), revealed that nicotine levels after smoking a tobacco cigarette in five minutes (18.8ng/ml) were 185% and 286% higher compared to using first and new-generation electronic cigarette devices, respectively.

Based on the available research papers, it is possible to conclude that nicotine absorption rates from cigarettes are three to four times higher than those from vapes.

This means that you need to take more puffs on your vape than you might think to absorb the amount of nicotine found in a cigarette.

Type of Nicotine

There is no doubt that the type of nicotine that features in your e-liquid will impact nicotine absorption.

Salt nicotine is absorbed more quickly into the bloodstream than freebase nicotine. Many vapers feel that it provides longer-lasting relief of cravings which could mean that vapers need to take fewer puffs during the day to remain satisfied or that they require a lower nicotine strength.

The Nature of the Device

The more vapour that is inhaled, the more nicotine that is delivered to the body. High wattage devices fitted with low resistance coils vaporise more liquid per puff and will deliver larger aerosol volumes. This is why high VG e-liquids for sub-ohm vaping tend to boast lower nicotine strengths.

PG/VG Ratio

PG (propylene glycol) carries flavour and nicotine more efficiently than VG (vegetable glycerine). The PG/VG ratio of your e-liquid could make a difference to nicotine absorption.

Vaping Style

How you inhale will significantly affect nicotine absorption. When mouth to lung (MTL) vaping, vapour is held briefly in the mouth before being drawn into the lungs. But when direct to lung (DTL) vaping, vapour is drawn directly into the lungs, leading to greater absorption of nicotine.

Puff Duration and Frequency

The longer the puff, the greater the amount of vapour that is inhaled. If you inhale a larger amount of vapour, you will absorb more nicotine.

Individual Physiology

Personal factors including lung capacity, metabolic rate and nicotine tolerance will also impact nicotine absorption. The rate at which the body clears nicotine also varies from one person to another.

Conclusion

As the rate at which nicotine is absorbed varies according to a number of factors, it simply isn't possible to identify exactly how many puffs are equivalent to smoking a cigarette. Most vapers will find the right combination of nicotine strength, e-liquid, vaping style and device to relieve their cravings.

Always remember that if you change your vaping style or your device, you may need to switch nicotine strength as well.