Analytical methods for the identification of micro/nano metals in e-cigarette emission samples: a review

Abstract

In this review, numerous analytical methods to quantify the heavy and trace elements emitted from electronic cigarettes, cigarettes liquid and atomizer. The selection of a method was dependent upon the purpose, e.g., quantification or identification of elements only. The introductory part of this review focuses on describing the importance of setting up an electronic cigarettes- associated safety profile. The review dealt with studies that assessed elements in sizes ranging from nano to micro. The formation of different degradation chemical substances as well as impurity trends can be indicated through chemical investigation of metals in electronic cigarettes. Some studies have been covered that show the uses and benefits of. It is noticeable from all the collected sources that the minerals emitted from the smoke of e- cigs do not constitute any significant damage, as the percentage is very small, with the exception of minerals that may be emitted from the components of the device after heating it if the components of the e- cig are of poor specifications, except in the case of long-term accumulation. For this reason, an electronic cigarette can help smokers to quit smoking tobacco and replace it with electronic cigarettes smoke with distinctive flavors.

Transfer of Metals to the Aerosol Generated by an Electronic Cigarette: Influence of Number of Puffs and Power

“…Williams et al [ 37 ] and Pappas et al [ 46 ] determined that insoluble metal nanoparticles are potentially incorporated into the aerosol, possibly from mechanical breakdown of the heating filament or solder and that copper, tin, and lead could be coming from the copper wiring in the e-cigarette that is soldered to the heating coil [ 37 , 44 , 45 ]. Additional studies indicate similar findings, that the source of metals in the e-cigarette aerosol appears to be the metal heating coil and other parts, wiring, and solder within the e-cigarette itself [ 25 , 31 , 34 , 36 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ].…”

“…Metal concentrations in the tank and aerosol samples were measured using a graphite furnace atomic absorption (GFAA) AAnalyst 600 spectrometer (Perkin Elmer, Waltham, MA, USA). Although ICP-MS is commonly used for metal analysis of e-liquids and aerosol [ 25 , 51 , 54 ], GFAA was chosen in this study for the ability to measure very small volumes of sample, and accessibility to the instrument, although fewer elements were able to be quantified compared to ICP-MS. Chromium, nickel, copper, and lead concentrations were measured by diluting the e-liquid samples by a factor of 2 with 1% ultrapure nitric acid (chromium, copper, and lead) and a factor of 10 for nickel. No further digestion of the samples were performed and dilutions were performed in 1% nitric acid [ 55 , 56 ].…”