Abstract
The content of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) possessing carcinogenic properties has been an important area of research since replacement liquids were introduced for e-cigarettes. A method for determining N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N′-nitrosoanatabine (NAT), and N′-nitrosoanabasine (NAB) in replacement liquids for electronic cigarettes was developed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The sample preparation of replacement liquids was accomplished via the ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction of a porous membrane packed sample. The sample preparation proved to be successful in extracting the analytes, with recoveries from 87% to 105%, with coefficients of variation < 4.9%. Moreover, the linearity and limits of detection and quantitation (LOD, LOQ), together with repeatability and accuracy, were determined for the developed method. The proposed sample preparation and developed chromatographic method were successfully applied to the determination of TSNAs in 9 replacement liquid samples. The NNK and NNN were found to be most frequently detected (89 and 67%, respectively), with concentration ranges from 1.2–54.3 ng/mL and 4.1–30.2 ng/mL, respectively, while NAT was detected with frequency of 22% with range 1.7–2.5 ng/mL and NAB were found to be below the LOD in all samples.
Highlights
Electronic cigarettes, most commonly known as e-cigarettes, are becoming more and more popular as an alternative to traditional smoking and are intended to simulate or imitate the sensations of smoking tobacco [1]
This paper presents a novel method for the determination of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) using the ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction of porous membrane packed sample followed by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS
NNN and NNK were detected as the two major TSNAs present in the replacement liquid samples
Summary
Electronic cigarettes, most commonly known as e-cigarettes, are becoming more and more popular as an alternative to traditional smoking and are intended to simulate or imitate the sensations of smoking tobacco [1] These devices are made of a battery, a mouthpiece, (in many cases) an advanced electronic control system, a tank with a heater to hold a liquid (known as e-liquid) containing nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG) and flavouring additives [2]. Such devices were sold to be helpful in smoking and nicotine addiction therapy. Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are a particular area of interest [4,5], because they are present alongside nicotine and are known for their cancerogenic properties [6]
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