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                            Library & Multimedia
 A Retrospective Analysis of Chemical Constituents in Regulated and Unregulated E-Cigarette Liquids
NCJ Number
              303624

Author(s)
          Alaina K. Holt;
                        Justin L. Poklis;
                        Michelle R. Peace
Date Published

October 2021
Annotation
              This article is a retrospective analysis of chemical constituents in regulated and unregulated E-cigarette liquids.
Abstract
              E-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI) was identified with the incidents of a multi-state outbreak of acute lung injuries associated with the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) and attributed to vitamin E acetate in off-market cannabis-based e-liquids. Aside from EVALI, hypersecretion of mucus, irritated nasal passages, and watery, red eyes have been defined as complaints associated with vaping standard nicotine-based e-liquids. The chemical composition of e-liquids varies between manufacturers and robust oversight of ingredients is lacking. Manufacturers use chemicals deemed “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by the FDA, a designation for chemicals used in foodstuffs to be ingested. Most “GRAS” chemicals are associated with at least one Global Harmonization System (GHS) warning class, ranging from irritant to toxic. Untargeted chemical analysis is critical to evaluate e-liquid products to determine chemical composition; equally important is the quantitation of components to help elucidate the potential harms from exceeding recommended exposure limits. Untargeted screening of e-liquids was accomplished using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Direct Analysis in Real Time-AccuTOFTM mass spectrometry (DART-ToF-MS) and has identified 350 chemical constituents from 241 products analyzed. Nicotine, caffeine, menthol, and vitamin E were confirmed and quantitated by GC-MS, ethanol was confirmed and quantitated by headspace-gas chromatography-dual flame ionization detection (HS-GC-FID), and olivetol and cannabinoids were confirmed and quantitated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Maximum identified concentrations of nicotine, caffeine, menthol, vitamin E, ethanol, olivetol, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and cannabidiol were 56.4, 26.9, 4.28, 307.9, 217.2, 399.6, 497.7, and 332.6 mg/ml, respectively. Evaluation of untargeted analysis and quantitation of unlabeled chemical components of e-liquids is essential to improving etiology of acute lung injury and less severe impacts of vaping, both short-term and long-term. The historical documentation of unlabeled ingredients can provide some insight for a retrospective analysis of health consequences and inform policy discussions. (publisher abstract modified)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2014-R2-CX-K010
                                2016-DN-BX-0150
                                2018-75-CX-0036
                                2019-MU-MU-0007


  
  
        
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  Award
        Characterization and Abuse of Electronic Cigarettes: The Efficacy of  a Personal Vaporizer as an Illicit Drug Delivery System
                                Chasing the Electronic Cigarette Dragon - Characterizing the Evolution and Impact of Design and Content
                                Through the E-Cigarette Looking Glass: The Impact of Vaping Ethanol on DUI Investigations
                                Through the Looking Glass Part II: Abuse of the Evolving Electronic Cigarette and the Impact of Vaping Ethanol in the Evaluation of Impairment
    
  
  
Date Published: October 1, 2021
    
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