Enter the total nicotine used for the estimate (for example, nicotine absorbed or nicotine delivered in smoke/aerosol) and the total number of puffs into the calculator to estimate the nicotine per puff. Note: using nicotine content in tobacco or e‑liquid gives a theoretical maximum and will overestimate what a person absorbs.
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Nicotine Per Puff Formula
The following formula is used to estimate the nicotine per puff when you know (or choose) an estimate for the total nicotine delivered/absorbed over a session and the total number of puffs.
N_p = \frac{N_t}{P}Variables:
- N_p is the nicotine per puff (mg/puff)
- N_t is the total nicotine used for the estimate (commonly an estimate of nicotine delivered in smoke/aerosol or nicotine absorbed by the user) (mg)
- P is the total number of puffs
To calculate the nicotine per puff, divide the total nicotine used for the estimate by the total number of puffs. If you instead use nicotine content in tobacco or e‑liquid for N_t, the result is a theoretical maximum and will not equal nicotine absorbed per puff.
What is Nicotine Per Puff?
Nicotine per puff is an average amount of nicotine per inhalation, usually interpreted as nicotine delivered in smoke/aerosol or nicotine absorbed by the user. Because nicotine delivery depends on the product and how it is used (puff duration, puff volume, ventilation, and other factors), it is typically estimated rather than directly measured. A common estimate is to divide an assumed total delivered/absorbed nicotine amount by the number of puffs.
How to Calculate Nicotine Per Puff?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Nicotine Per Puff.
- First, determine the total nicotine used for the estimate (N_t). For intake-focused estimates, use nicotine delivered in smoke/aerosol or nicotine absorbed (not nicotine content in tobacco).
- Next, determine the total number of puffs (P).
- Finally, calculate the nicotine per puff using the formula N_p = N_t / P.
- After inserting the values and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Total nicotine used for the estimate (N_t) = 1.5 mg
Total number of puffs (P) = 12
Nicotine per puff (N_p) = N_t / P = 1.5 / 12 = 0.125 mg/puff
