Is a vape equal to 20 cigarettes?

A standard disposable vape in the UK is generally considered to deliver a nicotine amount equivalent to that found in 20 cigarettes. This equivalence is based on the nicotine content of the vape and how much nicotine is absorbed when smoking cigarettes.
Key Points:
Nicotine Content: A typical UK disposable vape contains 40mg of nicotine in total (from 2ml of e-liquid at a concentration of 20mg/ml) .
Absorption Rates: When smoking, a person typically absorbs about 1-2mg of nicotine per cigarette, leading to an estimated total absorption of 20-40mg from 20 cigarettes . Thus, the nicotine delivered by a disposable vape aligns with this range.
Comparison with Cigarettes: While cigarettes release thousands of harmful chemicals when burned, vaping primarily delivers nicotine through vaporization, which exposes users to significantly fewer toxins .
In summary, while both vaping and smoking involve nicotine consumption, a UK disposable vape can be roughly equated to smoking 20 cigarettes in terms of nicotine delivery. However, the health risks associated with vaping are substantially lower compared to traditional smoking.