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Today then we are looking at the difference between nic salts and freebase nicotine and why here at SMOKO our vape starter kits only use freebase nicotine in our products.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NICOTINE SALTS AND FREEBASE NICOTINE
E-Cigarettes used freebase nicotine solution in e-liquid when they were first invented, however some companies have taken to using another form of nicotine: protonated nicotine, also known as nicotine salt. Nicotine is present as a salt in tobacco leaves and tobacco companies even used additives to increase the amount of nicotine in salt form in cigarettes because it is thought that nicotine salt gets into the blood easier and faster.
This blog will explain why nic salts being ‘better’ than freebase nicotine for vaping is not scientifically established, as well as talk about some of the information coming out of the studies that have been done and the implications of these results.
WHAT IS E-LIQUID
An E-liquid is the liquid mixture that E-Cigarettes heat up into a vapour that can be inhaled. Nicotine salt e liquid is a type of e-liquid that uses nicotine salts instead of freebase nicotine, offering a smoother vaping experience. It is made from a combination of propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), flavourings and nicotine. This allows nicotine to be delivered into the lungs like in smoking, but without the thousands of extra chemicals, carcinogens and products of combustion known to be harmful in tobacco smoke.
WHAT IS FREEBASE NICOTINE
WHAT IS NICOTINE SALT
Nic salts are when freebase nicotine has an acid added to it, which reduces the pH value. Vaping nic salts has become increasingly popular due to their smoother throat hit and higher nicotine concentrations. This pH value reduction is one reason why nic salts are smoother to inhale. By adding an acid, you are adding a ‘proton donor’ – acids are ionically charged and will give up their protons – hence the other term for nic salts: ‘protonated nicotine’. Nic salts allow for higher nicotine concentrated e-liquids due to the reduced harshness when vaped.
THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF NICOTINE SALTS
Nicotine salts have a relatively recent history in the vaping industry. The concept of nicotine salts was first introduced by JUUL, a popular e-cigarette brand, in 2015. JUUL’s innovative approach to nicotine delivery involved using benzoic acid to create a smoother and more efficient nicotine experience. This breakthrough led to the development of nicotine salts as we know them today. Since then, nicotine salts have become increasingly popular among vapers, particularly those seeking higher nicotine concentrations and a more satisfying throat hit.
HOW NICOTINE SALTS WORK
Nicotine salts work by combining freebase nicotine with an acid, such as benzoic acid or citric acid. This process reduces the pH level of the nicotine, making it more acidic. It is thought that nicotine salts are absorbed more quickly and efficiently by the body, providing a faster and more intense nicotine experience. The addition of acid also reduces the harshness of the throat hit, making nicotine salts a more comfortable option for vapers who prefer higher nicotine concentrations.
THE ADVANTAGES OF NICOTINE SALTS
Nicotine salts offer several advantages over traditional freebase nicotine e-liquids. One of the primary benefits is their ability to provide higher nicotine concentrations without the harshness of freebase nicotine. Nicotine salts are often preferred by vapers who are seeking a smoother throat hit without the discomfort of freebase nicotine. Overall, nicotine salts offer a more comfortable and efficient nicotine experience, making them an attractive option for many vapers.
THE DISADVANTAGES OF NICOTINE SALTS
While nicotine salts offer several advantages, they also have some disadvantages. One of the primary concerns is the potential for over-vaping, as nicotine salts can be more addictive than traditional freebase nicotine e-liquids. Additionally, nicotine salts can be more expensive than freebase nicotine e-liquids, particularly for vapers who require higher nicotine concentrations. Furthermore, some vapers may experience physical symptoms, such as a harsher throat hit or increased heart rate, when using nicotine salts. It is essential for vapers to be aware of these potential disadvantages and to use nicotine salts responsibly.
DOES NIC SALT PRODUCE HIGHER BLOOD NICOTINE LEVELS
A big concern for smokers when they make the switch to vaping is getting enough nicotine to squash the nicotine cravings. Nicotine replacement therapies, such as gum and patches, have traditionally used freebase nicotine due to its potency and effectiveness. A huge number of online vape stores suggest that nic salt is better for vapers with a heavy smoking background, saying that more nicotine gets into the blood with nic salts.
There are scientific papers that agree with this position, however there are studies that indicate the opposite is true. When you dig into the available information, you find that many things like the type and power of vape device, the balance of propylene glycol to vegetable glycerine (PG to VG) all impact nicotine absorption in the lungs.
This is down to how nic salt behaves when vapourised. Where freebase nicotine can take a gaseous state, nic salt stays in a particulate state and creates bigger molecules. For this reason, it may not move into the blood from the lungs as easy as freebase nicotine and may even struggle to reach the small sacs in the lungs called ‘alveoli’ where most of the gaseous exchange takes place.
It is also understood that ionised, or ‘charged’, particles have a harder time crossing into the blood from the lungs, further suggesting that freebase nicotine - that doesn’t hold a charge - may have an easier time getting into the blood from the lungs.
So why do nic salt sellers say that nic salts deliver a bigger nicotine hit? Rather than it being easy for the nicotine to get into the blood, it may be the much higher nicotine concentrations in the lungs creates a very steep diffusion gradient that encourages the nicotine to move from the high concentration in the lungs to the much lower concentration in the blood. This could mean that for the same number of nicotine particles, freebase nicotine gets into the blood more easily! This is supported by one study that found freebase nicotine vapour produced higher nicotine blood-serum levels than nic salt vapour in mice.
IS NIC SALT SAFER THAN FREEBASE NICOTINE
Due to the increased particle size, it may be that the immune system has a harder time dealing with the particulates from nic salt e-liquid. Our immune system works by sending white blood cells, known as phagocytes, to deal with foreign particles. The phagocytes engulf the particulate matter or pathogen to break it down and help the body get rid of it. Naturally, larger particles will be more challenging for the phagocytes to deal with, leading to increased inflammation as more white blood cells are needed.
This hypothesis is based on a study on the nicotine chemistry, pH and health effects of conventional E-Cigarettes vs. pod-mods that indicates high-concentrate nic salt liquids may have an impact on epithelial cells (the lining of the lungs) and lung cancer cells, leading to a stronger inflammatory response than that generated with freebase nicotine e-liquids. This stronger inflammatory response means more fluid gets into the lungs so this may help to explain why, of the reported negative effects from vaping on the MHRA Yellowcard system, they are all linked to forms of pneumonia.
A big point to note is the increased volume of flavourings used in nic salt e-liquids. Flavourings produce some of the particulate matter that is known to be harmful (much less than smoking, don’t forget) so increased volume of flavourings – between 3 and 4 times the amount of flavouring compared with freebase nicotine e-liquids – does mean an increase in the amount of particulate matter produced when vaping that liquid. This could lead to a 3-to-4-fold increase in harmful particulate matter, indicating nic salt e-liquids could be on the worse end of the Public Health England stance that E-Cigarettes are 95% less harmful than smoking.
Disposable vapes coming from China use nic salt e-liquids, however these units are sealed and intended to be discarded once finished. The sealed nature of these devices allowed disposables to circumvent the regulation for e-liquids here in the UK, but with the updated Tobacco Products Directive regulations coming into force in 2016, they should now be compliant. However, disposable vapes not compliant are still managing to make their way onto UK shelves - compare this to both the SMOKO E-Cigarette and the VAPE POD that are approved by the MHRA before hitting the shelves!
One of the reasons that disposable vapes are popular with youngsters is the much-reduced throat hit from nic salt vapes. Where freebase nicotine encourages you to stop when you’ve had your fill due to the throat hit, nic salt vapes don’t have the same impact on the throat, allowing the user to over-vape easily. As 99.9% of exhaled E-Cigarette aerosol is water and glycerine, vaping non-stop could increase the amount of fluid in the lungs, increasing the risk of pneumonia-related illness. Constant exposure to high levels of nicotine will increase the likelihood of developing an addiction which needs to be avoided as much as possible in under 18’s.
One big factor that affects your vaping experience is the power of the device you use. Mod vapes, sometimes called 'box mods', are high powered devices that produce too much vapour to effectively use a high concentration freebase nicotine liquid due to the massive throat hit. Using a nic salt liquid reduces that throat hit, allowing some vapers to use them in these powerful devices. It is worth noting that the current literature indicates more powerful devices produce more particulate matter, likely increasing the inflammatory response in the lungs. This would suggest that lower powered devices using freebase nicotine are the safest vapes to use.
SAFETY CONCERNS AND REGULATIONS
Nicotine salts are subject to the same safety concerns and regulations as traditional freebase nicotine e-liquids. In the UK, for example, e-liquids containing nicotine salts are subject to the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) regulations, which limit the nicotine concentration to 20mg/ml (2% strength). Additionally, nicotine salts are subject to the same safety standards as freebase nicotine e-liquids, including the use of high-quality ingredients and rigorous testing procedures. Vapers should always ensure that they purchase nicotine salts from reputable manufacturers and follow the recommended usage guidelines to minimise the risk of adverse effects.
NIC SALTS IN THE UK
A look online at e-liquids available overseas will show you that nic salts are used to create super-strong nicotine e-liquids. Nicotine salt e liquid is popular in the UK due to its smoother throat hit and higher nicotine concentrations, however in the UK the TRPR and TPD regulations limit the nicotine strength of e-liquids to 2%, or 20mg/ml. Nic salt e-liquids are available overseas in strengths over double the legal limit for the UK, so over 4% or 40mg/ml!
Other vaping companies in the USA proudly used Nic salts to give this kind of strength, if not higher, but due to the TPD this hasn’t happened in the UK. A good thing too, as many of those companies are now being sued due to their practices.
With nic salt e-liquids that strong, it’s easy to see the very high concentration of nicotine vapour in the lungs delivering more nicotine than the freebase counterparts that aren’t available at those strengths. This is nullified by the regulation in the UK that can only be intentionally (and legally) circumvented by making your own e-liquids with nicotine-free e-liquids intended to be mixed with nicotine shots, known as a shortfill e-liquid.
This allows a user to create a super-strength nicotine e-liquid here in the UK. As a responsible adult, it is down to the user to decide if they want to exceed the legal maximum set for e-liquids available for retail in the UK. It is worth remembering that these regulations are in place to protect the consumer, so ignore them at your peril!
The problem with super-strong liquids in disposable vapes is the increasing frequency that under 18’s are getting hold of them – nicotine is thought to impact the developing brain, and is likely to lead to more addictive behaviours as they grow up. We have also seen several instances of lung injury in youngsters using disposable vapes across the world. These events indicate the need for strict controls over disposable vapes.
NICOTINE SALT VS FREE BASE, WHICH IS SAFER
More studies need to be conducted to determine precisely which form of nicotine is safest to consume. Nicotine replacement therapies, such as gum and patches, have traditionally used freebase nicotine due to its potency and effectiveness. Due to the varying nature of nicotine strengths available for nic salts, it is challenging to compare freebase nicotine and nic salt products, however the studies reflect a market that uses nic salts to create higher strength nicotine liquids, so current evidence is relevant to the market.
A reason for this blog is the anecdotal evidence we have experienced from customers, with one customer who came to us with a diagnosis of emphysema – the gradual damage of lung tissue leading to the destruction of the alveoli - after regular disposable vape use. With so many issues surrounding disposable vapes, it is vital that more studies are conducted to establish consensus on the safest way to vape.
At SMOKO, our e-liquids are made here in the UK so are held to the high standards set out by the MHRA and TPD regulations. We use freebase nicotine so our customers get that throat hit to give smokers trying to quit that realistic smoking sensation when they vape – something missing from nic salt liquids!
If you are a smoker looking to quit then make the switch with the UK’s premium E-Cigarettes - SMOKO! Get started with a FREE* starter kit by clicking one of the links below!
*(One per customer, Buy a box of SMOKO refills and get the starter kit FREE)
REFERENCES
1) Article on the science of Nicotine
2) Study on absorption of freebase nicotine vs nic salt
4) Article on how Nicotine Salts work
5) Public Health England's statement on the safety of E-Cigarettes compared to cigarettes
6) Lawsuits against E-Cigarette Companies for use of Nicotine Salts and other practices
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Written by Dan Overgage
Dan Overgage is a former smoker of 10 years until he became a client of SMOKO E-Cigarettes. Dan started working with SMOKO 5 years ago after successfully quitting using our e-cigarettes and works across our Customer Service and heads up our content creation and research with a strong focus on all things quitting smoking. During his tenure with SMOKO, Dan has written countless blogs and consults with countless clients every day to help them to stay smoke-free.
