Aldehyde Detection in Electronic Cigarette Aerosols

Abstract

Acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde are the principal toxic aldehydes present in cigarette smoke and contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease and noncancerous pulmonary disease. The rapid growth of the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has raised concerns over emissions of these harmful aldehydes. This work determines emissions of these aldehydes in both free and bound (aldehyde–hemiacetal) forms and other carbonyls from the use of e-cigarettes. A novel silicon microreactor with a coating phase of 4-(2-aminooxyethyl)-morpholin-4-ium chloride (AMAH) was used to trap carbonyl compounds in the aerosols of e-cigarettes via oximation reactions. AMAH–aldehyde adducts were measured using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to analyze hemiacetals in the aerosols. These aldehydes were detected in the aerosols of all e-cigarettes. Newer-generation e-cigarette devices generated more aldehydes than the first-generation e-cigarettes because of higher battery power output. Formaldehyde–hemiacetal was detected in the aerosols generated from some e-liquids using the newer e-cigarette devices at a battery power output of 11.7 W and above. The emission of these aldehydes from all e-cigarettes, especially higher levels of aldehydes from the newer-generation e-cigarette devices, indicates the risk of using e-cigarettes.

Formaldehyde Hemiacetal Sampling, Recovery, and Quantification from Electronic Cigarette Aerosols

“…In addition to sampling and analysis, many chemical (e.g., acidity) and physical factors can influence the levels and identities of PG and GLY degradation products, including the proportion of hemiacetal to free HCHO. Finally, the finding that there is a significant relative abundance of 1a – d to HCHO in e-cigarette aerosols, in general agreement with another recent report 3 , coupled with the fact that 1a – d are not well-accounted for as HCHO equivalents via widely used analytical methods, necessitates broader investigation. The further study of 1a – d as well as other challenging e-cigarette aerosol toxins, including acrolein and acetaldehyde, will be reported in due course.…”

“…In a more recent investigation, we showed that 1a – d can form under relatively benign, single puff conditions 8 . During the preparation of this manuscript, another significant report appeared showing that 1a – d levels were indeed a potentially concerning proportion of the total HCHO (in the 22–45% range) found in e-cigarette aerosols, specifically when using newer devices possessing increasingly higher power output capabilities 3 . However, as is shown herein, the relative levels of 1a–d to HCHO produced by e-cigarettes can be even higher, because they are dependent on many key variables such as sampling and analytical techniques.…”

“…Electronic cigarettes have been promoted as a healthier alternative to smoking, however little is known about their long-term health effects. A concerning current trend is the manufacture of customizable electronic cigarettes with increasingly lower resistance heating coils and higher operating temperatures that can enhance the likelihood of exposure to higher aerosol toxin levels 2, 3 . One means of understanding the toxicity of e-cigarettes while long-term epidemiological studies are underway is the elucidation of the chemical profiles of e-cigarette aerosols 2–14 .…”

Comparing the cancer potencies of emissions from vapourised nicotine products including e-cigarettes with those of tobacco smoke

“…There is some evidence that the large differentials found here between the cancer potencies of most ECs and those of tobacco smoke may be less for other medical conditions involving the cardiovascular and respiratory systems 37. Future research should address these gaps.…”

Chemoselective reagents for derivatization of trace--level volatile carbonyl compounds using a microreactor approach.

“…[91][92][93][94][95] A link between e-cigarette use and risk stems from the presence of harmful and potentially harmful constituents identified in aerosols of e-cigs, including metals, particles, carbonyls and flavoring compounds. 71,79,[96][97][98][99][100] However, the presence of toxic carbonyl compounds in e-cigarette aerosols derived from humectants and/or flavoring chemicals used in e-liquid formulations is raising health concerns. 98,101 In order to address these concerns, we set out to measure the generation of carbonyl compounds from the humectants propylene glycol and glycerol, as well as from commercial e-liquids containing flavoring chemicals in "tank type" refillable e-cigarette devices.…”