Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Australia. There are various ways tobacco is smoked. It can be via cigarettes, cigars, pipes or shisha. The nicotine component in tobacco smoking makes it addictive and can be harmful.
Nicotine
Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical found in tobacco plants found in cigarettes, cigars, and most e-cigarettes. It is toxic which can harm brain development, cause lung diseases, and impact memory and attention. It can cause dependency making it hard for individuals to quit nicotine consumption.
Cigarette
A cigarette contains up to 600 different substances, which, when burned, produce 7000 chemicals. An average cigarette contains acetone, ammonia, arsenic, butane, carbon monoxide, and lead. The nicotine content in each cigarette can be wildly different due to the brand.
Vape
E-cigarettes or Vapes are battery-powered devices. They heat a liquid to make it into a fine aerosol to be inhaled. Many individuals have turned to e-cigarettes as an alternative to smoking cigarettes. However, due to safety concerns, these are not approved products for quitting smoking. Though the vape avoids burning tobacco, the liquid inside contains nicotine and a complex mix of chemicals, including nickel, tin, lead, and chlorine.
How much nicotine is in a cigarette?
The amount of nicotine in a cigarette can vary depending on the brand. It usually ranges from about 6 mg to 12.6mg with some high content ones at 28 mg of nicotine. There are many brands of cigarettes each with different amounts of tobacco in them.
The majority of individuals do not inhale the whole cigarette and let it burn out, hence the full amount of nicotine will not be inhaled. Usually, 1-2 mg of nicotine will be smoked with each cigarette and if a pack of 20 cigarettes is smoked then nicotine inhaled will be 22 to 36mg.
How much nicotine is in an e-cigarette or ‘vape’?
A vape can contain 40 mg of nicotine, and on average a person vaping absorbs 50% of nicotine in a vape. So about 20 mg of nicotine is absorbed from vaping. This means a person vaping absorbs about the same amount of nicotine as a pack of 20 cigarettes.
There are different levels of e-liquids used in various strengths, typically claimed to range from 0 to 24 mg. There have been traces of nicotine in the zero nicotine vape too which could mean that the nicotine levels in vapes may be misleading.
Nicotine in a cigarette vs in a vape
Comparing nicotine levels
The difference in nicotine levels in cigarettes and vaping devices ranges from 12mg in a cigarette to 24mg in a vape.
Absorption difference in cigarette vs vape
The difference between cigarette and vaping devices is the absorption of nicotine in the body. Through a cigarette, the nicotine is absorbed via the lungs and thus quickly reaches the brain releasing dopamine in the process.
Whilst the vaping device inhales the nicotine through the mouth and lungs, the absorption varies due to the type of liquid aerosol, the concentration of the nicotine, and the amount of vapes.
What happens in the body when you smoke?
When you smoke, harmful substances enter your lungs and move into the bloodstream. They can reach the brain, heart, and other organs within 10 seconds of the first puff. The nicotine in tobacco products makes your brain release a chemical called dopamine which is a feel-good chemical that makes you feel happy, helps you concentrate, and gives you more energy. Then as the nicotine levels in the body fade, your brain craves more dopamine.
This dopamine becomes a cycle where the more you smoke, the more dopamine is needed to satisfy the feeling. Once the body doesn’t receive the nicotine, it will suffer withdrawal symptoms.
What are the health effects of nicotine?
Beyond being a potentially addictive substance and changing your brain chemistry, nicotine can have long-term personal health effects and can be harmful to public health. Quitting smoking is a transformative decision with numerous lifestyle and health benefits. While it can be challenging, the long-term advantages make it a life-changing choice.
Individuals on the journey to quitting smoking should having guidance from health professionals and support workers to make a significant difference.
Consult a doctor
Resources
Effects of smoking and tobacco | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care