Use of a gas-tight syringe sampling method for the determination of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in E-cigarette aerosols by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

We report here a sampling method using a gas-tight syringe (GTS) in the determination of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in aerosols from electronic cigarettes. The method is based on extraction with a solvent at the same time as the aerosol is introduced into a GTS. The analytes were dissolved in the solvent after it had been injected into the GTS and the extract was then directly injected into a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system. The optimum extraction conditions for the TSNAs were: solvent, methylene chloride; volume, 10 mL; and shaking time, 3 min. The proposed GTS method was compared with conventional impinger methods. The GTS method showed good recoveries of 98-103% with a small relative standard deviation of 2%. The amounts of TSNAs per 50 mL puff were 3.5-45.5 pg for N 0 -nitrosonornicotine, 3.5-759.5 pg for 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, 3.5-164.5 pg for N 0 -nitrosoanabasine, and 3.5-612.5 pg for N 0 -nitrosoanatabine in the aerosols from 50 brands of electronic cigarettes from 11 different companies purchased in Korean shops. When the developed method was applied to aerosols from electronic cigarettes using prepared replacement liquids containing TSNA precursors, no TSNA was observed. Therefore we suggest that the TSNAs were not formed during the operation of the electronic cigarettes. We used the same method to determine the concentrations of TSNAs in 10 conventional cigarettes produced by five different companies and purchased from shops in Korea. The total observed concentrations of TSNAs in the electronic cigarettes were about 100-fold lower than in the conventional cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes: what are they and what do they do?

“…54 In studies of select ECIGs, TSNAs have been found in the liquid and the aerosol produced when the heater is activated, but at much lower levels than in tobacco cigarettes. 39,55,56 The ratio of PG to VG in ECIG liquid can be 0:100, 100:0, or anywhere in between. Solvent content is important owing to differences in the physical properties of the solvents.…”

“…Finally, because the nicotine in ECIGs is derived from the tobacco plant, the liquid can contain other tobacco‐related toxicants, such as tobacco‐specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) that are known carcinogens . In studies of select ECIGs, TSNAs have been found in the liquid and the aerosol produced when the heater is activated, but at much lower levels than in tobacco cigarettes …”

Analytical Method for Measurement of Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines in E-Cigarette Liquid and Aerosol

“…Moreover, there are only a few reported analytical methods for the measurement of TSNA concentration levels in EC aerosols. These methods captured the aerosol after the solvent had been injected into a gas-tight syringe or extracted the glass fiber filter pad that captured the aerosols with water [19,38]. As such, there are very limited case studies that evaluate the emissions of TSNAs released by the use of ECs.…”

Solid‐phase extraction of tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines with a mixed‐mode hydrophobic/cation‐exchange sorbent

“…Therefore, to evaluate the harmful public health effects of TSNAs in smokers, it is necessary to monitor their contents in tobacco, tobacco products and tobacco smoke . HPLC and GC coupled with various detection techniques such as thermal energy analyzer , MS and MS/MS have been repeatedly used to determine the presence of TSNAs. LC is the most commonly used separation platform , and MS/MS has become the routine detection technique for TSNAs.…”