1. A rapid quantitative screening method to assess chemicals present in heated e-liquids and e-cigarette aerosols
- Author
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Anderson, Natalie, Pringle, Paul, Mead-Hunter, Ryan, Mullins, Benjamin, Larcombe, Alexander, and Allard, Sebastien
- Abstract
Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) lack regulatory status as therapeutic products in all jurisdictions worldwide. They are potentially unsafe consumer products, with significant evidence showing they pose a risk to human health. Therefore, developing rapid, economical test methods to assess the chemical composition of e-liquids in heated and unheated forms and the aerosols produced by e-cigarettes is crucial. Methods: Four different e-liquids were heated using two different methods: 1) “typical” vaping using an e-cigarette device, by cycling “on” for three seconds every minute for two hours (e-liquid obtained from the remainder in the tank and aerosol collected in an impinger) and, 2) “accelerated” heating, using an e-cigarette coil, submerged in e-liquid, and heating in short 20 second bursts “on” then 20 seconds “off” for two minutes only (liquid traps aerosol produced). All e-liquids were then analyzed to test for the presence and quantity of 13 chemicals by gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry and compared to an unheated sample. Results: E-liquids heated with the “accelerated” method showed a comparable trend to the “typical” heating method, of increase or decrease in chemical compound quantity, for greater than two-thirds of the detected compounds analyzed over all e-liquids. Six chemicals were detected as aerosol from the impinger fluid with the “typical” heating method, most at negligible levels. Conclusion: We propose this rapid method could form the basis of a standardized screening tool to test heated e-liquids (and e-cigarette aerosols) for harmful or banned substances to ensure only approved products reach the consumer, and the potential harms of e-cigarette use are reduced.
- Published
- 2023