Flavourings, nicotine content, and elemental composition as indicators of regulatory compliance in nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products

Abstract

Nicotine pouches (NPs) and heated tobacco products using heatsticks (HSs) are relatively new alternatives to traditional smoking. Their rising popularity, especially among younger populations, and recent regulatory efforts to reduce nicotine and tobacco use, emphasize the need for their analytical assessment. In this study, the chemical composition of 26 NPs and 16 HSs available on the Slovenian market has been investigated. Non-targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that some HSs contained compounds not permitted under regulations, including menthol, vanillin, and ethyl vanillin. NPs, which are not yet regulated regarding flavouring additives, contained potentially harmful compounds (cinnamaldehyde, acetaldehyde, menthofurane, pulegone, Dlimonene, etc.), many of which were not declared on the product labels. Tobacco-based HSs contained significantly higher total element content (up to 2155.32 µg/g) compared to cellulose-based NPs (up to 61.21 µg/g), with Al, Ba, Fe, Mn, Sr, and Ti being the most abundant. Nicotine content ranged from 7.6 ± 0.2 mg/g of NP filling to 20.0 ± 0.1 mg/g NP filling in NPs and from 12.6 ± 0.1 mg/g of HS filling to 16.6 ± 0.1 mg/g of HS filling in HSs. The determined nicotine content in NPs deviated up to -52.9% from that declared by the manufacturers. These findings highlight the variability in the chemical composition of NPs and HSs, including their flavourings, nicotine content, and elemental composition, emphasizing the need for regulatory oversight and correct product labelling.