Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39375033›Full record

ArticleTobacco control2026

Effects of freebase/protonated nicotine concentration, liquid composition and electrical power on throat hit in direct-to-lung vaping: theory and clinical measurements.

Mario El Hourani, Issam Lakkis, Maram Ammar, Christina AlGemayel, Soha Talih, Laleh Golshahi, Sana Hosseini, David Ashley, Rawad Saleh, Thomas Eissenberg and 2 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Tobacco control, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Mario El HouraniMechanical Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.ORCID 0000-0001-7176-6175
Issam LakkisMechanical Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Maram AmmarMechanical Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Christina AlGemayelMechanical Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Soha TalihMechanical Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.ORCID 0000-0002-3520-675X
Laleh GolshahiDepartment of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Sana HosseiniDepartment of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
David AshleyDepartment of Population Health Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Rawad SalehEnvironmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Thomas EissenbergCenter for the Study of Tobacco Products, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8277-5437
Alison BrelandCenter for the Study of Tobacco Products, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8949-2395
Alan ShihadehMechanical Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon as20@aub.edu.lb.ORCID 0000-0001-6387-8564

Funding

Project 4: Using a prospective cohort survey to test population-level predictions generated by Projects 1-3U54DA036105 · NIDA · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · PI FAGAN, PEBBLES · 2018 to 2022
$20.8M
Training and Education Core p270-287P50DA036105 · NIDA · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · PI EISSENBERG, THOMAS EVAN · 2013 to 2017
$19.2M
NIDA NIH HHS P50 DA036105NIDA NIH HHS U54 DA036105
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFor decades, the tobacco industry has engineered the sensory characteristics of combustible tobacco products including the degree of harshness experienced at the back of the throat. Commonly referred to as 'throat hit', this harshness derives from absorption of gas phase nicotine and other constituents by the sensory nerves. People who use tobacco products associate throat hit with the positive psychological effects of nicotine, making it a secondary reinforcer for smoking. On the other hand, high throat hit can make products aversive to naïve nicotine users and serves as a barrier to consumption of tobacco products.

methodsWe developed a first-principles theoretical model to predict nicotine absorption in the throat as a function of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) device power, liquid composition and puffing topography. The predicted nicotine absorption was compared with subjective throat harshness reported by human participants. We also simulated several ENDS use scenarios to identify the most important processes and factors that govern nicotine absorption in the throat.

resultsAcross various ENDS configurations, we found that computed nicotine gas absorption in the throat was associated with subjective harshness scores (r=0.62; p<0.00001). We also found that liquid nicotine concentration, nicotine form, aerosol temperature and inhalation rate strongly influence nicotine absorption in the throat per unit of nicotine emitted by an ENDS.

conclusionsNicotine throat hit can be predicted and manipulated through ENDS device and liquid design variables. Regulating ENDS throat hit is feasible and may help reduce product appeal to nicotine-naïve individuals while maintaining acceptability for smokers.

Indexed as

Electronic Nicotine Delivery SystemsNicotinePharynxVapingAdultFemaleHumansMaleModels, TheoreticalYoung AdultNicotineAddictionElectronic nicotine delivery devicesNicotine

Identifiers

PMID39375033
PMCPMC11973237

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.