LACORS Research into the Electronic Cigarette:
Elementary mistakes lead to a miscalculation in nicotine content
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Note: This analysis relies heavily on work done by Katherine Devlin, an industry consultant to the electronic cigarette, as well as other e-cigarette users who prefer not to be named.
Background:
LACORS are the UK government body responsible for Trading Standards across the UK. In 2009 LACORS analysed the electronic cigarette and found that the device contained more than 20% nicotine, a quantity in excess of the 7.5% allowed under the poisons act. They issued a release stating that:
"Results of tests commissioned by LACORS on e-cigarettes reveal that these products are currently being sold illegally in the UK. All four e-cigarettes tested had nicotine at more than seven percent in solution and therefore are legally required to display 'Highly Toxic' product warnings. One refill contained nearly 20 percent nicotine, or 18mg per refill, equivalent to 20 cigarettes. The majority of e-cigarettes are sold online but they are becoming more widely available at street markets and shops."
Bad Science
Unfortunately, the quantity of nicotine in the electronic cigarettes was miscalculated.
For example, the nicotine in one cartridge was labeled at 18mg/ml. A layman might assume this to be 18%. However, as GCSE science students are taught, there is a discrepancy in the international weights and measurements system. 1 litre of liquid weighs 1000 grams or 1 kilogram, and so 1 milliliter of of water weighs 1 gram, and not 1 milligram.
As a result, a cartridge tested at 18mg/ml would contain 1.8% of nicotine and not 2% of nicotine. This is more in line with other tests carried out across the world, including Health New Zealand's tests, Australian tests and the FDA tests themselves, which found that the quantity of nicotine delivered by electronic cigarettes is less than that in a regular cigarettes.
LACORS have so far failed to retract their statement, despite industry calls to do so.