Both cigarettes and vapes contain nicotine, an addictive chemical found naturally in tobacco. Nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream when smoking cigarettes or vaping e-liquids. However, there are some key differences between the nicotine content of traditional cigarettes compared to vapes.
How Much Nicotine is in a Cigarette?
The amount of nicotine in a cigarette can vary based on the brand, type of tobacco, and other factors. On average, a single cigarette contains between 6-12 mg of nicotine.[1] This can be affected by:
- Tobacco blend – Virginia, Burley, and Oriental tobacco leaves have different nicotine levels
- Tar and carbon monoxide levels – Cigarettes marketed as “light” or “ultra-light” tend to have lower nicotine content
- Filter and paper – Filters can reduce the amount of nicotine inhaled from the tobacco
- Additives – Ammonia and acetaldehyde can increase the amount of nicotine absorbed
So a typical cigarette may have around 1-2 mg of absorbed nicotine per cigarette. However, this can increase up to 3 mg for unfiltered brands or cigarettes with higher tar and nicotine levels.[2]
How Much Nicotine is in Vape Juice?
Unlike cigarettes, the nicotine content in vape juice can vary dramatically based on the e-liquid. Most vape juices contain between 0-36 mg/mL of nicotine. The nicotine strength is often marked clearly on the bottle. Some common levels include:
- 0 mg/mL – Nicotine-free e-liquid
- 3 mg/mL – Extra light nicotine
- 6 mg/mL – Low nicotine
- 12 mg/mL – Medium nicotine
- 18 mg/mL – High nicotine
- 24 mg/mL – Extra high nicotine
So a 30 mL bottle of 12 mg/mL vape juice would contain 360 mg of nicotine. Users can choose lower concentrations to wean off nicotine or higher concentrations for a more intense hit. The absorbency rate also varies based on the device and temperature used for vaping.
Cigarette Nicotine Absorption vs Vaping
While it’s easy to compare the nicotine content, the absorption rate also impacts how much nicotine enters the bloodstream. Here is a comparison of cigarette and vaping nicotine absorbency:
Cigarette Nicotine Absorption
When smoking a cigarette, the nicotine is absorbed through the lungs. Nicotine particles in the smoke enter the lungs rapidly, then are distributed in the bloodstream and delivered to the brain within seconds.[3]
Cigarettes have an absorption rate of 80-90%. Up to 1-2 mg of nicotine is absorbed systemically from smoking a single cigarette. Peak nicotine blood levels are reached within 10–20 minutes after starting to smoke.
Vaping Nicotine Absorption
Nicotine from vaping is absorbed through the membranes of mouth, nose and lungs. But vaping tends to have a lower absorption rate than smoking.
One study found vaping nicotine salts delivered a peak concentration in blood of around 15 ng/mL compared to 30 ng/mL for smoking.[4] The absorption rate can be as low as 50% for vapes compared to 80% for cigarettes.
Factors like the vape device, e-liquid pH, and user inhalation behavior impacts the absorption rate. More powerful vapes and deeper inhalation can increase the amount of nicotine absorbed.
Comparison of Absorption Rates
| Method | Nicotine Absorption Rate |
|---|---|
| Cigarette smoking | 80-90% |
| Vaping | 50-80% |
As shown, cigarette smoking tends to have a higher rate of nicotine absorption compared to vaping. However, users can ingest more nicotine overall from vape juice with high nicotine concentrations.
Factors That Impact Nicotine Delivery
There are a few key factors that affect how much nicotine is delivered from cigarettes and vaping:
Cigarette Factors
- Tobacco type – Nicotine levels vary based on tobacco blend
- Cigarette size – Nicotine content increases with cigarette length
- Filters – Filters reduce nicotine absorption from tobacco
- Puff frequency/depth – Faster and deeper puffs increase nicotine ingestion
Vaping Factors
- Nicotine concentration – E-juice with higher nicotine levels delivers more nicotine
- Device power – More powerful devices increase nicotine absorption
- Inhalation behavior – Longer puffs and deeper inhalation increase nicotine delivery
- Coil and temperature – Nicotine delivery varies based on vape settings
For both cigarettes and vaping, user behavior is a major factor determining nicotine intake. More frequent or intense smoking/vaping results in higher nicotine levels.
How Much Nicotine is Inhaled on Average?
Based on nicotine content and average smoking rates, here’s how much nicotine is inhaled from cigarettes vs vaping:
Cigarettes
Most people smoke 5-15 cigarettes per day, or around 1-2 packs per week.[5] Considering cigarettes contain around 1-2mg of absorbed nicotine each, this equals:
- 5 cigarettes per day = 5-10 mg nicotine daily
- 1 pack per day = 20-40 mg nicotine daily
However, chain smokers may intake much higher amounts of nicotine from smoking over 20 cigarettes daily.
Vaping
The nicotine intake from vaping depends on the device, e-liquid, and vaping habits. For example:
- Low-powered device with 6mg/mL vape juice used 5 times a day = ~3-5 mg nicotine daily
- High-powered device with 24mg/mL vape juice used 20 times a day = ~20-40 mg nicotine daily
Vapers using high-nicotine e-liquids in powerful devices can ingest similar nicotine levels to heavy cigarette smokers. While lighter, occasional vaping leads to lower nicotine intake.
The Risks of Nicotine
While cigarettes and vaping both deliver nicotine, cigarettes tend to expose users to higher levels of carcinogens and toxins. However, nicotine on its own still carries health risks including:
- Addiction – Nicotine stimulates reward centers in the brain leading to dependence
- Neurological effects – Impacts adolescent brain development and cognition
- Cardiovascular effects – Can increase heart rate and blood pressure
- Pregnancy issues – Linked to premature birth and underweight babies
These effects should be considered for both cigarettes and vaping. While vaping may expose users to lower toxin levels, nicotine intake itself can still pose health risks.
Quitting Smoking and Vaping
The most effective way to reduce nicotine intake and avoid associated health risks is to quit using tobacco products entirely. For help quitting smoking, options include:
- Nicotine replacement therapy like gum, patches, lozenges
- Prescription medications – Such as Chantix, Wellbutrin
- Counseling and behavioral support
- E-cigarettes – Vaping to wean off smoking under medical guidance
And for help quitting vaping, options include:
- Gradually reducing nicotine concentrations in vape juice
- Transitioning to low-nicotine or nicotine-free vaping
- Using prescription medications or nicotine replacement products
- Seeking counseling to change habits and behaviors
Consulting a doctor can help come up with an effective cessation plan tailored to your needs and smoking/vaping habits.
The Bottom Line
While cigarettes and vape products both contain nicotine, key differences include:
- Cigarettes have around 1-2 mg of absorbed nicotine per cigarette
- Vape juice can range from 0-36 mg/mL of nicotine
- Cigarettes have a higher nicotine absorption rate of 80-90%
- Vaping absorption rate is lower at 50-80%
- Heavier use increases nicotine intake for both methods
Ultimately, the only way to avoid health risks from nicotine is to quit smoking and vaping completely. But vaping may expose users to lower levels of toxins compared to cigarette smoke. Consulting your doctor and using nicotine replacement therapy can help manage cravings and withdrawal during the quitting process.
References
- Benowitz, N. L., & Henningfield, J. E. (1994). Establishing a nicotine threshold for addiction. The implications for tobacco regulation. The New England journal of medicine, 331(2), 123–125.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2018). How much nicotine is in a cigarette? Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/how-much-nicotine.html
- Goriounova, N. A., & Mansvelder, H. D. (2012). Short- and long-term consequences of nicotine exposure during adolescence for prefrontal cortex neuronal network function. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 2(12), a012120.
- Duell, A. K., Pankow, J. F., & Peyton, D. H. (2020). Free-Base Nicotine Determination in Electronic Cigarette Liquids by (1)H NMR Spectroscopy. Chemical research in toxicology, 33(2), 431–434.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2016). Trends in current cigarette smoking. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/tables/trends/cig_smoking/index.htm
