E-Cigarette / Vaping Products Visual Dictionary - CDC

E-CIGARETTE, OR VAPING,
PRODUCTS VISUAL DICTIONARY

CS 311193-B

Disclaimer

●	 This product is intended for educational purposes only for public

health officials and healthcare providers.

●	 The devices and brands presented in this pamphlet are intended to

highlight the different e-cigarette, or vaping, product generations and
substances used in these devices. The use of brand names does not
constitute product endorsement.

●	 Contents of this pamphlet should not be modified.
●	 Note for Accessibility: Explanation of graphics on pages 13, 15, and 17

can be found in Appendix on page 25.

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Vaping Devices

E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

E-cigarette, or vaping, products can be used to deliver nicotine, cannabis (THC, CBD),
flavorings, chemicals, and other substances.
They are known by many different names and come in many shapes, sizes and device
types. Devices may be referred to as
●	 E-cigs

●	 Mods

●	 Vapes

●	 Pod-Mods

●	 Vape pens, dab pens, and dab rigs

●	 Electronic nicotine delivery systems
(ENDS)

●	 Tanks

Use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products is sometimes referred to as “vaping” or “juuling.”
E-cigarette, or vaping, products used for dabbing are sometimes called “dab” pens.

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Contents
E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products Visual Dictionary
Disclaimer.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Evolution of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Anatomy of an E-Cigarette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
First Generation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Disposable E-cigarettes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Second Generation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
E-Cigarettes with Prefilled or Refillable Cartridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Third Generation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Tanks or Mods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Sub-Ohm Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Fourth Generation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Pod Mods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Vaporizers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Classifying E-Cigarettes, or Vaping, Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Substances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
E-Liquid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Marijuana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Dabbing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
CBD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Synthetic Cannabinoids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Hacking or Modifying. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hacking Pods or Cartridges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hacking a Mod System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dripping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22
23
24
24

Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

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Devices

5

The Evolution of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

1
nd
2
rd
3
th
4
st

Disposable
e-cigarettes

GENERATION

GENERATION

E-cigarettes
with prefilled
or refillable
cartridge

Tanks or Mods
(refillable)

GENERATION

GENERATION

6

Pod Mods
(prefilled or
refillable)

Anatomy of an E-Cigarette

THE E-CIGARETTE
THE CARTRIDGE
This holds the e-liquid
(substance). It comes
prefilled or refillable. It is
usually combined with an
atomizer as one unit.

THE ATOMIZER
It is a coil that is a heating
element which helps
convert e-liquid to tiny
airborne droplets (aerosol).

THE SENSORS
E-cigarettes without a
power button will turn
on when the user inhales
through it. E-cigarettes
with or without a power
button require sensors to
turn on.

THE BATTERY
It is a rechargeable lithium
ion battery, which provides
enough current to heat the
atomizer to 400 degrees
Fahrenheitt in seconds.

7

Mod Box
It is a 3rd generation
device that is
modifiable (“Mod”)
allowing users to
change the voltage,
coils and wicks.

Sub-Ohm Tank
It is made of plastic
or metal with
transparent casing
so liquid levels can
be seen. It contains a
lower resistance coil
that allows the liquid
to heat up faster.

Cartridge
It is made of plastic
or metal with
transparent casing
so liquid levels can
be seen. It contains
an atomizer that
heats up the e-liquid.

E-Liquid
E-liquid is contained
in a pod, cartridge
or tank. It is made
up of a mixture of
substances that
includes nicotine,
cannabis, and/or
flavoring.

First Generation

Disposable E-cigarettes
●	 A type of e-cigarette designed to be used one
time, only.
●	 These devices are not rechargeable or refillable.
●	 They are discarded when it runs out of charge or
e-liquid.
●	 They are designed to mimic the look and feel of
combustible cigarettes. These are sometimes
referred to as “cigalikes”

8

Second Generation

E-Cigarettes with Prefilled or
Refillable Cartridge
●	 A type of rechargeable e-cigarette, or vaping, product
designed to be used multiple times.
●	 E-liquid comes in prefilled or refillable cartridges. Substances may include nicotine,
cannabis (THC, CBD), flavoring, solvents, or other substances.
●	 The cartridge is attached to a battery pen—which contains the battery.
●	 Cartridge and battery pen are typically purchased separately. They can be bought
in starter packs.

9

Third Generation

Tanks or Mods
●	 A type of rechargeable e-cigarette, or vaping,
product designed to be used multiple times.
●	 They are modifiable devices (“mods”), allowing
users to customize the substances in the device.

10

Third Generation

Sub-Ohm Tank
●	 Sub-ohm tank contains low resistance coils. It is
designed to create a large cloud (aerosol) with a
stronger delivery or hit of nicotine or other substances.

11

Fourth Generation

Pod Mods
●	 Pod Mod is an e-cigarette, or vaping, product with a prefilled or refillable
‘‘pod’’ or pod cartridge with a modifiable (mod) system (“Pod-Mods”)
●	 These are other examples of fourth generation devices. Pod Mods come
in many shapes, sizes, and colors.
●	 Common Pod Mod brands include JUUL® and Suorin ®
●	 There are compatible prefilled pod cartridges that contain nicotine, THC,
or CBD with or without flavoring.

12

Fourth Generation

0

1

2

3

4

acidic

5

6

7

8

neutral

Nicotine
Salts

9 10 11 12 13 14

alkaline

Freebase
Nicotine

For accessibility, explanation of graphic can be found in Appendix, page 25.

Pod Mods
●	 Pod Mods typically use nicotine salts rather than the freebase nicotine
used in most other e-cigarette, or vaping, products.
●	 Nicotine salts, which have a lower pH than free base nicotine, allow
particularly high levels of nicotine to be inhaled more easily and with less
irritation to the throat than freebase nicotine.

13

Vaporizers

Vaporizers
●	 An inhalation device used to release the active substances of organic or
inorganic materials in the form of an aerosol through the application of
non-combusting heat
●	 Vaporizers can be used to aerosolize dry herbs, wax, and oil. For
example, vaporizers are used to heat marijuana to a point where its
active ingredients (e.g., THC) are released in an aerosol and inhaled.

14

Classifying E-Cigarettes, or Vaping, Products
How to Classify the User’s E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product
For an accessible explanation of schematic below on how to classify e-cigarettes, go to Appendix, page 25.

Important notes:

1.	 E-liquids can contain nicotine, THC, CBD, flavors, or other solvents.
2.	Marijuana herb, hash oil, dab wax are used with vaporizers.

QUESTION 1:
Is the e-liquid
contained in
a disposable
e-cigarette,
cartridge, tank,
or pod?

1

st

Disposable
e-cigarette
(no cartridge,
tank or pod)

Cartridge
(Prefilled
or
refillable)

GENERATION

(Cigalike)

QUESTION 2:
Is the cartridge
also called
a pod cartridge
or contains
nicotine salts?

NO

2

nd

GENERATION

(Battery Pen)

YES

3

rd

Tank/
Sub-Ohm
(Refillable)

GENERATION

(Modifiable—allows
variable voltage/watts)

4

th

Pod
(Prefilled or
refillable)

GENERATION

(Pod Mod)

Marijuana
herb, oil,
dab wax

Vaporizer,
Dab rig,
Dab pen

15

Substances

16

E-Liquid

E-Liquid
●	 E-liquid is the liquid that is converted into an aerosol by an e-cigarette, or
vaping, product. It is typically a mixture of water, food grade flavoring, a choice
of nicotine levels, cannabis (THC, CBD), propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable
glycerin (VG).
●	 PG and VG are humectants used in e-liquid to produce aerosols that simulate
combustible tobacco cigarette smoke.
●	 The ratio of PG and VG in the e-liquid can change based on whether flavor
(higher levels of PG) or plume (higher levels of VG) is desired.
For accessibility, explanation of regular e-liquid vs. cannabis e-liquid graphic below can be found in Appendix, page 25.

regular e-liquid vs. cannabis e-liquid

Propylene Glycol
(PG)
Nicotine

Tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC)

Flavors

Vegetable Glycerine
(VG)

Cannabidiol
(CBD)

1717

Marijuana

Marijuana Bud

Crumble

Wax

Shatter

Dry Sift/Kief

Marijuana
●	 Also called weed, herb, pot, grass, bud, ganja, Mary Jane, and a vast number
of other slang terms—is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried flowers of
Cannabis sativa.
●	 THC is the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana.
●	 THC and terpenes (aromatic oils) are extracted from marijuana as THC
concentrates, hash oil, and wax. These derived products, crumble, shatter, wax,
and dry sift/kief, have a high dosage of THC.
●	 Marijuana contains much more THC than hemp, while hemp has more
cannabidiol (CBD).

18

Dabbing

Dab Rig

Concentrate

Torch

Dabbing
●	 Dabbing or dibbing is a process that allows the user to inhale a high
concentration of THC by aerosolizing of a concentrate that has been placed on
a hot surface (the “nail”).
●	 Dabbing is also a term used when using THC concentrates and wax in a dab
pen or a vaporizer.

19

CBD

CBD
●	 CBD stands for cannabidiol and it is derived from cannabis, marijuana and hemp.
●	 CBD is the main ingredient in hemp and the second main ingredient in marijuana
after THC.
●	 CBD is not a psychoactive substance.

20

Synthetic Cannabinoids

Synthetic Cannabinoids
●	 Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of synthetic molecules that bind to
cannabinoid receptors in the brain and body (the same receptors to which THC
and CBD attach).
●	 They are “designer drugs” that are usually smoked and have been marketed as
herbal incense, or “herbal smoking blends”.
●	 They are sold under common names like K2, Spice, Black Mamba, Kronic and
Synthetic Marijuana.

21

Hacking or Modifying

22

Hacking Pods or Cartridges
Hacking or Modifying
Devices or Liquid
Cartridges
●	 “Hacking” may include any
post-market modifications
to the device that are
beyond the intended use by
the manufacturer.
●	 For example, users may
“hack” closed systems (such
as pod/cartridge devices) to
refill these cartridges with
other substances.
●	 This is different than “mod”
devices, which are intended
to be customized by the user.

23

Hacking a Mod System

Dripping
●	 Users hack the mod system
in order to create a bigger hit
(amount) of the substance
used. This is done by
increasing the temperature
used to heat the e-liquid.
Dripping is when users
expose the heating coils to
“drip” liquids directly on the
heating device and get a
more flavorful and thicker
cloud of aerosol.
●	 Dripping is dangerous
because it can expose
users to higher levels of
the substance (nicotine,
cannabis) and to harmful
toxins, such as formaldehyde
and acetaldehyde, which are
known carcinogens.

24

Appendix
Explanation of Graphics for Accessibility
This is an illustration of a colorful pH range from pH 0
to 14. pH 0 to 6 is indicated as acidic. pH 7 is indicated as neutral. pH 8 to14 is indicated as
alkaline. Below is a regular cigarette pack with freebase nicotine that has a high pH which
is alkaline. Fourth generation e-cigarette, vaping, products contain nicotine salts that has a
low pH which is acidic. (page 13)

Page 13—Graphic acompanying Pod Mods:

This is a schematic to help
classify e-cigarette, or vaping, products based on the substance and device the e-liquid
is contained in. Classifying e-cigarettes, or vaping, products correctly will aid public
health officials and healthcare providers in reporting devices used by users experiencing
symptoms from these products.

Page 15—How to Classify the User’s E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product:

Important notes:
3.	E-liquids can contain nicotine, THC, CBD, flavors, or other solvents.
4.	Marijuana herb, hash oil, dab wax are used with vaporizers.
First question to ask, is the e-liquid contained in a disposable e-cigarette, cartridge,
tank or pod?
●	 If it is a disposable e-cigarette then the device is classified as a first generation device.
●	 If it is a cartridge then a second question is asked. Is the cartridge also called a pod
cartridge or contains nicotine salts? If the answer is no, then it is a second generation
device. If the answer is yes then it is a fourth generation device.
●	 If it is a tank or a sub-ohm tank then the device is classified as a third generation device.
●	 If it is a pod then the device is classified as a fourth generation device.
●	 If the user is using marijuana herb, oil, or dab wax then the device is either a vaporizer,
dab rig or dab pen. (page 15)
Page 17—Illustrative example of differences between regular e-liquid and cannabis e-liquid. Regular

e-liquid contains nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavors. Cannabis
e-liquid contains Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). (page 17)

CS 311193-B

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