Research Projects

This study examined whether nicotine from electronic cigarette aerosols deposits on indoor surfaces and how long it persists. Using controlled chamber experiments, the research demonstrated that nicotine readily deposits on both glass and cotton surfaces and remains detectable for several days, with substantially longer persistence on cotton materials, indicating potential for thirdhand nicotine exposure.

In a laboratory chamber study, glass and cotton (terrycloth) surfaces were exposed to electronic cigarette aerosol for one hour and then monitored for nicotine persistence over a 72-hour period. Surface nicotine concentrations were measured at multiple time points using GC/MS analysis and modeled to estimate decay rates by material type. Results showed significantly higher initial nicotine deposition and longer persistence on cotton compared to glass, with modeled return to background levels occurring after approximately four days for glass and sixteen days for cotton. These findings suggest that nicotine from e-cigarette aerosols can persist long enough on indoor surfaces to contribute to potential thirdhand exposure and warrant further investigation into chemical transformation and health implications.