Abstract
An experimental method was developed and validated for the collection and analysis of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) that are present in electronic cigarette (EC) liquid or are released from aerosol samples using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) system. As part of this study, the relative recovery of four target TSNAs was assessed by spiking standards in a mixture of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. Recovery was assessed against two major variables: (1) the chemical media (solution) selected for sample dilution (acetonitrile [ACN] vs. ammonium acetate [AA]) and (2) the type of sampling filter used (Cambridge filter pad [CFP] vs. quartz wool [QW] tube). The average recovery of TSNAs in terms of variable 1 was 134 ± 22.1% for ACN and 92.6 ± 8.27% for AA. The average recovery in terms of variable 2 was 83.4 ± 7.33% for QW and 58.5 ± 12.9% for CFP. Based on these conditions, the detection limits of N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N′-nitrosoanatabine (NAT), and N′-nitrosoanabasine (NAB) were calculated as 4.40, 4.47, 3.71, and 3.28 ng mL−1, respectively. The concentration of TSNAs in liquid and aerosol samples of six commercial EC solutions was measured as below the detection limit.
Highlights
An electronic cigarette (EC) is an electronic spraying device that generates aerosols containing nicotine
The use of ECs is highly popular around the world due to its ease, pleasant odors, and inhalation characteristics that are similar to conventional cigarettes [4,5]
The standard calibration curve was examined by computing a regression line of peak area ratio for weight of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in Liquid working standards (L-WS)
Summary
An electronic cigarette (EC) is an electronic spraying device that generates aerosols containing nicotine. An EC consists of a rechargeable battery, a cartridge containing the refill solution and aerosol, and an atomizer that transforms the liquid into an aerosol by heating the liquid solution [1,2,3]. The EC liquid is made up mainly of propylene glycol (PG) and/or vegetable glycerin (VG), to which flavors and/or nicotine can be added according to the consumer’s preference. The use of ECs is highly popular around the world due to its ease, pleasant odors, and inhalation characteristics that are similar to conventional cigarettes [4,5]. Some countries are regulating the use of ECs very strictly [4]
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