Mislabelling of nicotine content in electronic cigarette liquids in Malaysia: implications on public health

Electronic cigarette (e-cig) is a battery-operated device which vaporises nicotine solution into a form of inhalable aerosol. The level of nicotine in the liquid for e-cig (e-liquid) may vary and the typical nicotine concentration reported is between 6 to 24 mg of per ml. Based on the National Elect...

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Main Authors: Nik Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki, Ab Rahman, Jamalludin, Draman, Samsul, Kartiwi, Mira, Ab Rahman, Norny Syafinaz, Rahman, Azizur, Syed, Mahmood, Jamshed, Shazia Qasim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Malaysia Association 2017
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Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/58872/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/58872/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/58872/1/58872_Mislabelling%20of%20nicotine%20content.pdf
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spelling iium-588722018-02-03T06:31:45Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/58872/ Mislabelling of nicotine content in electronic cigarette liquids in Malaysia: implications on public health Nik Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki Ab Rahman, Jamalludin Draman, Samsul Kartiwi, Mira Ab Rahman, Norny Syafinaz Rahman, Azizur Syed, Mahmood Jamshed, Shazia Qasim R Medicine (General) Electronic cigarette (e-cig) is a battery-operated device which vaporises nicotine solution into a form of inhalable aerosol. The level of nicotine in the liquid for e-cig (e-liquid) may vary and the typical nicotine concentration reported is between 6 to 24 mg of per ml. Based on the National Electronic Cigarette Survey (NECS) 2016, 83.9% of e-cig adult users in Malaysia preferred eliquid with 6 mg/ml nicotine. In Malaysia, nicotine in products other than tobacco is regulated under the Poisons Act 1952, restricting its sale by licensed health professionals only. However, the sale of e-liquid containing nicotine is widespread and vapers are not assured of the accuracy of content versus that on the label of the e-liquid bottle. OBJECTIVE: To determine the actual nicotine concentration in selected e-liquid brands marketed in Malaysia. Methods: Samples (81 brands) obtained from respondents of the NECS 2016 were analysed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in selective ion mode (SIM) at a certified laboratory. Results: 15 samples labelled as no or zero nicotine were found to contain nicotine. Nine samples contained level of nicotine higher than what their labels indicated. Interestingly, 57 samples had nicotine concentrations that were lower than that indicated on the labels. The nicotine concentration percentage difference between labelled and result from analysis was found to be as low as from -99.16% to -1.28% in 64 samples, while in 4 samples the difference was higher; 0.083% to 163.0%, and the remaining 13 samples had no mention of nicotine concentration on their labels. Conclusion: Significant discrepancy was detected in nicotine concentration between the labelled and analysed values among the collected e-liquid samples. Strict regulation and enforcement is needed for e-cig liquids to ensure safety of users and compliance to current regulations on nicotine. Medical Malaysia Association 2017-08-01 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/58872/1/58872_Mislabelling%20of%20nicotine%20content.pdf Nik Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki and Ab Rahman, Jamalludin and Draman, Samsul and Kartiwi, Mira and Ab Rahman, Norny Syafinaz and Rahman, Azizur and Syed, Mahmood and Jamshed, Shazia Qasim (2017) Mislabelling of nicotine content in electronic cigarette liquids in Malaysia: implications on public health. The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 72 (supp. 1). p. 31. ISSN 0300-5283 http://www.e-mjm.org/2017/v72s1/31.pdf
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Local University
institution International Islamic University Malaysia
building IIUM Repository
collection Online Access
language English
topic R Medicine (General)
spellingShingle R Medicine (General)
Nik Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki
Ab Rahman, Jamalludin
Draman, Samsul
Kartiwi, Mira
Ab Rahman, Norny Syafinaz
Rahman, Azizur
Syed, Mahmood
Jamshed, Shazia Qasim
Mislabelling of nicotine content in electronic cigarette liquids in Malaysia: implications on public health
description Electronic cigarette (e-cig) is a battery-operated device which vaporises nicotine solution into a form of inhalable aerosol. The level of nicotine in the liquid for e-cig (e-liquid) may vary and the typical nicotine concentration reported is between 6 to 24 mg of per ml. Based on the National Electronic Cigarette Survey (NECS) 2016, 83.9% of e-cig adult users in Malaysia preferred eliquid with 6 mg/ml nicotine. In Malaysia, nicotine in products other than tobacco is regulated under the Poisons Act 1952, restricting its sale by licensed health professionals only. However, the sale of e-liquid containing nicotine is widespread and vapers are not assured of the accuracy of content versus that on the label of the e-liquid bottle. OBJECTIVE: To determine the actual nicotine concentration in selected e-liquid brands marketed in Malaysia. Methods: Samples (81 brands) obtained from respondents of the NECS 2016 were analysed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in selective ion mode (SIM) at a certified laboratory. Results: 15 samples labelled as no or zero nicotine were found to contain nicotine. Nine samples contained level of nicotine higher than what their labels indicated. Interestingly, 57 samples had nicotine concentrations that were lower than that indicated on the labels. The nicotine concentration percentage difference between labelled and result from analysis was found to be as low as from -99.16% to -1.28% in 64 samples, while in 4 samples the difference was higher; 0.083% to 163.0%, and the remaining 13 samples had no mention of nicotine concentration on their labels. Conclusion: Significant discrepancy was detected in nicotine concentration between the labelled and analysed values among the collected e-liquid samples. Strict regulation and enforcement is needed for e-cig liquids to ensure safety of users and compliance to current regulations on nicotine.
format Article
author Nik Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki
Ab Rahman, Jamalludin
Draman, Samsul
Kartiwi, Mira
Ab Rahman, Norny Syafinaz
Rahman, Azizur
Syed, Mahmood
Jamshed, Shazia Qasim
author_facet Nik Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki
Ab Rahman, Jamalludin
Draman, Samsul
Kartiwi, Mira
Ab Rahman, Norny Syafinaz
Rahman, Azizur
Syed, Mahmood
Jamshed, Shazia Qasim
author_sort Nik Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki
title Mislabelling of nicotine content in electronic cigarette liquids in Malaysia: implications on public health
title_short Mislabelling of nicotine content in electronic cigarette liquids in Malaysia: implications on public health
title_full Mislabelling of nicotine content in electronic cigarette liquids in Malaysia: implications on public health
title_fullStr Mislabelling of nicotine content in electronic cigarette liquids in Malaysia: implications on public health
title_full_unstemmed Mislabelling of nicotine content in electronic cigarette liquids in Malaysia: implications on public health
title_sort mislabelling of nicotine content in electronic cigarette liquids in malaysia: implications on public health
publisher Medical Malaysia Association
publishDate 2017
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/58872/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/58872/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/58872/1/58872_Mislabelling%20of%20nicotine%20content.pdf
first_indexed 2023-09-18T21:23:19Z
last_indexed 2023-09-18T21:23:19Z
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