Teen Vaping and Smoking Show Similar Nicotine Exposure Levels

Study Overview

Nicotine exposure levels could be similar between adolescents who vape and those who smoke tobacco.

In a study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers examined nicotine metabolites in the urine samples of 364 participants aged 16 to 19 years, who also completed questionnaires regarding their smoking and vaping habits.

Key Findings

They found that compared with those who exclusively smoked tobacco, the adolescents who vaped or engaged in dual use presented with comparable total nicotine equivalents.

Additional discoveries included:

• Vaping products containing nicotine salts exposed adolescents to higher concentrations of total nicotine equivalents compared with those that didn’t have nicotine salts
• No statistically significant differences in total nicotine equivalents between adolescents using products with nicotine concentrations greater than 20 mg/ml versus those using products with 20 mg/ml or less
• Nicotine concentrations may not be the only factor contributing to overall nicotine exposure

Public Health Implications

The findings represented an urgent call to better understand nicotine exposure among adolescents as the rates of vaping continue to increase. The researchers hope the results of their study can help inform public health policies to eliminate nicotine use among this patient population.

This information is provided as part of our commitment to patient education and oral health awareness. For more information about how tobacco and nicotine products affect your dental health, please discuss with Dr. Pelts during your next appointment.