Method for the Determination of Carbonyl Compounds in E-Cigarette Aerosols

Abstract

Low levels of thermal degradation products such as carbonyls (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, crotonaldehyde) have been reported in e-cigarette aerosols. The collection and analysis of e-cigarette aerosol carbonyls are often adapted from methods developed for tobacco cigarette smoke. These methodologies are often not sensitive enough to detect low carbonyl levels in e-cigarette aerosols. One objective of this work was to develop and validate a rapid, selective and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry method optimized for analysis of carbonyls in e-cigarette aerosols. Aerosols were trapped in 20-puff collections, 4-s durations, 55-mL volumes, 30-s intervals, square wave puff profiles. Collection apparatus involved a linear smoking machine with Cambridge filter pad followed by a glass impinger containing acidified 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. This method showed limits of quantitation and detection of 0.016 and 0.003 µg puff−1, respectively, and run time of 4 min. Six e-cigarettes were evaluated (five devices each). All contained measurable levels of carbonyls. Levels were mostly well below those in conventional cigarettes. However, for some e-cigarettes, formaldehyde levels were above those for tobacco cigarettes (highest at 14.1 µg puff−1). Temperatures related to carbonyl yields in e-cigarette aerosols were explored to better understand carbonyl formation: formation of formaldehyde is low at temperatures below 350°C.

Short‐Term E‐Cigarette Exposure Increases the Risk of Thrombogenesis and Enhances Platelet Function in Mice

“…A 15‐minute break between the 2 exposure sessions was given so that the animals could access fresh air, food, and water. The puff duration was 3 seconds, puff interval 1 minute, and the puff volume was 50 mL, all of which mimics real‐life exposure scenarios 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. As for the controls or control mice, they were matched in terms of age and sex (ie, 10‐week‐old males), and were exposed to clean air.…”

Carbonyls and Carbon Monoxide Emissions from Electronic Cigarettes Affected by Device Type and Use Patterns

“…These findings demonstrate that the effect of vaping topography should be carefully considered to test e-cigarette chemical emissions. Previous reports used puff durations of 1 to 2 sec [6,37-40] and vaping flow rates of 10-16.7 mL/sec [4,5,8,17,41,42] to measure the potentially harmful emissions from e-cigarettes. Depending on the e-cigarette construction, levels of potentially harmful compounds reported in the previous studies can cause the over-or under-estimation of the actual exposures since e-cigarette users showed much longer puff durations (3.5 to 4 sec) and higher puff flow rates (24-38 mL/sec) [31,32].…”

The toxic potential of a fourth‐generation E‐cigarette on human lung cell lines and tissue explants

“…Apart from nicotine, several toxicants have been found in E‐cig aerosols and the E‐liquids themselves, including nitrosamines, acetaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (Flora et al, ; Goniewicz et al, ; Kim & Shin, ). However, the levels of these compounds were in general, much lower than in traditional cigarette smoke.…”