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Objectives: Due to rapidly emerging electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) technologies, increasing use in the US, and the unclear impact on users' health, investigating behavior associated with ad libitum ENDS use is an important research topic. ENDS use behavior is typically assessed either by direct observation or through smoking topography recording units; however, systematic comparisons between these methods are lacking. Therefore, we sought to compare 2 common methods to quantify ENDS topography. Methods: Current ENDS users (N = 18) used their own brand ENDS ad libitum in a clinical laboratory. We compared smoking topographybased recording units (desktop Clinical Research Support System; CReSS) and observational video-recordings with frame-by-frame (FxF) analysis methods to quantify ENDS topography. Results: Although CReSS analyses tended to estimate higher puff count and shorter average puff duration than FxF analyses, estimates of total puff duration were not different. Furthermore, both topography analysis methods showed significant associations with estimated nicotine intake. Conclusions: Neither the CReSS nor the FxF method is suited perfectly for analyzing ENDS topography. However, because FxF analysis is time-consuming and cumbersome, smoking topography- based recording unit methods may offer a more practical approach to measure ENDS topography; however, researchers must consider its limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Domestic cigar use has increased over the past 2 decades perhaps partially in response to cigarette restrictions and partially because cigars are used as vehicles for the delivery of marijuana. Although there is ample epidemiologic data to verify use and use patterns, there are relatively few studies that have looked at other aspects of current cigar use, advertising, toxicant exposure, and health effects. Methods: Gaps in knowledge prompted a research symposium entitled Cigar Use: Epidemiology, Toxicant Exposure, Health and Policy Implications in 2016. The symposium was hosted by Battelle Memorial Institute with support from an R03 grant from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Results: Multiple research recommendations emerged from the symposium, such as improvements in cigar monitoring and assessing effects of product design on toxicant delivery that are essential to making regulatory decisions. Conclusions: Now that FDA has indicated that it intends to regulate cigars, significant new research on cigar characteristics, use and marketing is needed to inform tobacco regulatory policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests exposure of nicotine-containing e-cigarette aerosol to nonusers leads to systemic absorption of nicotine. However, no studies have examined acute secondhand exposures that occur in public settings. Here, we measured the serum, saliva and urine of nonusers pre- and post-exposure to nicotine via e-cigarette aerosol. Secondarily, we recorded factors affecting the exposure. Six nonusers of nicotine-containing products were exposed to secondhand aerosol from ad libitum e-cigarette use by three e-cigarette users for 2 h during two separate sessions (disposables, tank-style). Pre-exposure (baseline) and post-exposure peak levels (Cmax) of cotinine were measured in nonusers' serum, saliva, and urine over a 6-hour follow-up, plus a saliva sample the following morning. We also measured solution consumption, nicotine concentration, and pH, along with use behavior. Baseline cotinine levels were higher than typical for the US population (median serum session one = 0.089 ng/ml; session two = 0.052 ng/ml). Systemic absorption of nicotine occurred in nonusers with baselines indicative of no/low tobacco exposure, but not in nonusers with elevated baselines. Median changes in cotinine for disposable exposure were 0.007 ng/ml serum, 0.033 ng/ml saliva, and 0.316 ng/mg creatinine in urine. For tank-style exposure they were 0.041 ng/ml serum, 0.060 ng/ml saliva, and 0.948 ng/mg creatinine in urine. Finally, we measured substantial differences in solution nicotine concentrations, pH, use behavior and consumption. Our data show that although exposures may vary considerably, nonusers can systemically absorb nicotine following acute exposure to secondhand e-cigarette aerosol. This can particularly affect sensitive subpopulations, such as children and women of reproductive age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]