RIT Scientists Build Tool to Make E-Cigarettes Safer

Scientists at Rochester Institute of Technology just made a breakthrough that could protect millions of young people from hidden vaping risks.

The research team discovered something important. People vape differently at home than they do in laboratory studies, often taking longer and deeper puffs that deliver more nicotine than expected.

This matters because current safety tests don't reflect real-world use. Even products labeled as low nicotine could expose users to higher levels depending on how people actually vape in their daily lives.

To solve this problem, researchers Risa Robinson and Edward Hensel created something remarkable. They built a wireless Personal Use Monitor, a first-of-its-kind device that tracks how people vape in natural settings outside the lab.

The monitor measures everything: how often someone puffs, how long each puff lasts, and how much vapor they inhale. It works with any type of e-cigarette device, adapting like different phone cases fit the same phone.

"We want lab testing to better represent the real world," said Robinson, a mechanical engineering professor who serves on the FDA's tobacco advisory committee.

The team brings together experts from multiple fields. Nathan Eddingsaas analyzes the chemical contents of vaping emissions. Stephanie Godleski studies why people reach for e-cigarettes in the first place, examining the psychological and emotional factors that drive use.

The FDA awarded the team $4.8 million over four years to continue this work. The National Institutes of Health recently added another $3.7 million to study nicotine content effects.

Their research fills a critical gap. While traditional cigarettes have been studied for decades, e-cigarettes remain relatively new territory. Scientists don't yet have the same clear indicators of harm and addiction they have for smoking.

This knowledge gap affects roughly 1.63 million middle and high school students who currently use e-cigarettes, according to FDA estimates.

The Ripple Effect

This research will shape how companies test e-cigarette products before bringing them to market. Better testing standards mean better protection for consumers, especially young people still developing healthy habits.

The work also demonstrates how solving complex health challenges requires multiple perspectives working together. Engineers design measurement tools, chemists analyze substances, and psychologists decode human behavior.

RIT's broader research enterprise received $105 million this past year for faculty and student projects across disciplines. The engineering college alone secured more than $20 million in research awards.

By understanding how people actually use these products in their daily lives, scientists can develop interventions that truly help people who want to quit. The data reveals patterns that inform prevention programs and support efforts.

The team continues recruiting participants to gather more real-world vaping data. Each person who joins the study adds another piece to the puzzle of understanding and reducing vaping-related harm.

One device at a time, these researchers are building a safer future for the next generation.