How Much Nicotine Do Cigarettes Contain?

In "Where Does Nicotine Come From?", Part 1 of this series, we got to learn more about the history of nicotine and how it's evolved over time. In this piece, we will be looking at the amount of nicotine to be found in different nicotine delivery systems, from nicotine replacement therapies and tobacco cigarettes to e-cigs or electronic cigarettes.

From Cigarette Smoking to E-Cig Vaping: Understanding Nicotine Content

If you are looking to give smoking and go into vaping, then picking the right nicotine strength is vital. The good thing, though, is that most e-liquids usually list the amount of nicotine content they have on their labels. The question to ask is, how much nicotine do cigarettes contain? While the answer will vary from brand to brand, this most important thing to understand is how nicotine intake through smoking a cigarette differs from nicotine intake through vaping.

How Much Nicotine Does a Single Cigarette Have?

Instead of asking how much nicotine a single cigarette has, a better question to ask is, how much nicotine does a smoker absorb into his/her body? While a typical tobacco cigarette contains anywhere between 10 to 20 mg of nicotine, only about 1 milligram is absorbed by the body. As such, the amount or level of nicotine in a cigarette smoker's bloodstream is generally determined by how often he or she smokes rather than the brand he or she prefers. All extra chemicals added to a cigarette act as fuels or catalysts to deliver nicotine as fast as possible.

Many people do not know this, but nicotine can find its way into your bloodstream through the mucous membranes found in your mouth and nose, lungs, and skin. For a long time now, people have used things like NRTs, Nicotine Replacement Therapies, such as lozenges and patches to easy tobacco withdrawal symptoms. E-cigs, which are now being referred to as electronic nicotine delivery systems by the FDA, are designed to imitate the act of smoking. It is important to note that how nicotine is delivered will have a significant impact on how the body absorbs it.

How Much Nicotine Do Nicotine Replacements Products Contain?

Nicotine patches work by delivering controlled quantities of nicotine through skin contact over a 24-hour period. These patches are generally available in 5 to 22 mg doses. Nicotine lozenges and gums, on the other hand, come in 2 to 4 mg doses but have a more instant effect as they are absorbed into the body through the mucous membranes found in the mouth and nose. Nasal sprays and nicotine inhalers are available in different doses, but just like cigarettes, only about 1 to 2 mg is absorbed into the user's blood.

How Much Nicotine Do E-Cigarettes Contain?

Now that we've established the amount of nicotine in a cigarette, it is time to find out more about their electronic cousins. E-liquids and E-Cigs are available in different nicotine levels that are measured in either NBV or Nicotine by Volume or milligrams. A majority, if not all, White Cloud products use Nicotine by Volume, and we have a comprehensive nicotine content article to explain why NBV is the most honest way to label electronic cigarette liquids. The article also offers guidance to those of you looking for a nicotine strength that suits your smoking habits.

Over the last couple of years, research has been done, and studies suggest that vaping is not as effective a nicotine delivery system as smoking; vapers, as such, consume lesser nicotine with every puff.

What Effect Does Nicotine Have On The Body?

Anyone who smokes can tell you that nicotine helps them calm down; interestingly, however, what it does is it stimulates the smoker's central nervous system. How's that even possible you ask! To find out, make sure that you read the next article installment of this series, that is Part 3, and learn more about the effect nicotine has on the body.