PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Part of the appeal of e-cigarettes lies in their available flavors. To achieve attractive flavors, e-liquids contain many different flavoring agents, which allow many flavoring combinations. To advance our knowledge of e-liquid flavors and compositions and to evaluate the effect of legislation, we determined whether there are ingredient combinations that are frequently used together.
METHODS: We used e-cigarette ingredient data from the European Common Entry Gate system (EU-CEG) as available on 31 December 2022.
RESULTS: In e-liquids, we found 214 ingredient pairs with a co-occurrence odds ratio greater than 10. Together, these consisted of 62 unique ingredients. Network analysis revealed that ingredients were grouped together based on their flavor and/or chemical structure. We identified two densely connected regions (clusters) in the network. One consisted of six ingredients with sweet-vanilla-creamy flavors. The second cluster consisted of 13 ingredients. While some of these have fruity flavors, others, such as alkyl carboxylic acids and dimethyl sulfide, are known to have unpleasant flavors. Additional data and literature analyses indicated that alkyl carboxylic acids can contribute to a creamy and sweet-fruity taste, whereas dimethyl sulfide can contribute to a more refined fruity taste.
CONCLUSIONS: These results exemplify that the flavor of e-liquids is not just the sum of its parts. Big data analyses on product data can be used to detect such patterns, but expert knowledge and additional data are needed for further interpretation. Monitoring of e-liquid flavors as well as ingredients will remain important to regulate e-liquid product attractiveness.
METHODS: We used e-cigarette ingredient data from the European Common Entry Gate system (EU-CEG) as available on 31 December 2022.
RESULTS: In e-liquids, we found 214 ingredient pairs with a co-occurrence odds ratio greater than 10. Together, these consisted of 62 unique ingredients. Network analysis revealed that ingredients were grouped together based on their flavor and/or chemical structure. We identified two densely connected regions (clusters) in the network. One consisted of six ingredients with sweet-vanilla-creamy flavors. The second cluster consisted of 13 ingredients. While some of these have fruity flavors, others, such as alkyl carboxylic acids and dimethyl sulfide, are known to have unpleasant flavors. Additional data and literature analyses indicated that alkyl carboxylic acids can contribute to a creamy and sweet-fruity taste, whereas dimethyl sulfide can contribute to a more refined fruity taste.
CONCLUSIONS: These results exemplify that the flavor of e-liquids is not just the sum of its parts. Big data analyses on product data can be used to detect such patterns, but expert knowledge and additional data are needed for further interpretation. Monitoring of e-liquid flavors as well as ingredients will remain important to regulate e-liquid product attractiveness.
摘要：
背景：电子烟的吸引力部分在于其可用的口味。为了获得有吸引力的味道，电子液体含有许多不同的调味剂，这允许许多调味组合。为了提高我们对电子液体香料和成分的认识，并评估立法的效果，我们确定是否有经常一起使用的成分组合。
方法：我们使用了欧洲通用入口门系统（EU-CEG）于2022年12月31日提供的电子烟成分数据。
结果：在电子液体中，我们发现214个成分对的同时发生几率大于10.一起,这些由62种独特的成分组成。网络分析显示,成分基于其风味和/或化学结构被分组在一起。我们确定了网络中两个密集连接的区域（簇）。其中一种由六种成分组成，具有甜香草奶油味。第二组由13种成分组成。虽然其中一些有水果味，其他人,如烷基羧酸和二甲基硫醚，已知有令人不快的味道。其他数据和文献分析表明，烷基羧酸可以带来奶油和甜果味，而二甲基硫醚可以有助于更精致的果味。
结论：这些结果举例说明了电子液体的风味不仅仅是其部分的总和。对产品数据的大数据分析可以用来检测这些模式，但需要专业知识和其他数据进行进一步解释。电子液体香料和成分的监测对于调节电子液体产品的吸引力仍然很重要。
方法：我们使用了欧洲通用入口门系统（EU-CEG）于2022年12月31日提供的电子烟成分数据。
结果：在电子液体中，我们发现214个成分对的同时发生几率大于10.一起,这些由62种独特的成分组成。网络分析显示,成分基于其风味和/或化学结构被分组在一起。我们确定了网络中两个密集连接的区域（簇）。其中一种由六种成分组成，具有甜香草奶油味。第二组由13种成分组成。虽然其中一些有水果味，其他人,如烷基羧酸和二甲基硫醚，已知有令人不快的味道。其他数据和文献分析表明，烷基羧酸可以带来奶油和甜果味，而二甲基硫醚可以有助于更精致的果味。
结论：这些结果举例说明了电子液体的风味不仅仅是其部分的总和。对产品数据的大数据分析可以用来检测这些模式，但需要专业知识和其他数据进行进一步解释。电子液体香料和成分的监测对于调节电子液体产品的吸引力仍然很重要。
