Abstract:
The consumption of electronic cigarettes is a habit with an increasing prevalence, particularly among youths. Knowing the composition of e-liquids used in these devices represents the first step to understand the potential impact of e-smoking in the health of consumers. Herein, a non-target screening methodology was applied to the identification of volatile and semi-volatile compounds in a set of e-liquids from different suppliers, with different flavors, and containing different kinds of additives, such as nicotine or cannabidiol. To this end, samples were characterized by gas chromatography accurate mass spectrometry, using a time-of-flight mass analyzer. Combination of deconvoluted electronic ionization mass spectra with linear retention index values, obtained for two columns with different selectivity, permitted the identification of more than 250 chemicals with different confidence levels. Among them, respiratory pro-inflammatory compounds, acetals of propylene glycol and glycerin with aldehydes, nicotine-related and non-related alkaloids, and psychoactive cannabinoids were confirmed as concerning compounds in e-liquid samples. Concentration ratios between propylene glycol acetals and parent aldehydes varied in the range from 2% (ethyl vanillin) to more than 80% (case of benzaldehyde). The ratios between the concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in e-liquids stayed in the range from 0.02% to 0.3%.
摘要:
电子烟的消费是一种日益流行的习惯,尤其是年轻人。了解这些设备中使用的电子液体的成分是了解电子吸烟对消费者健康的潜在影响的第一步。在这里,非目标筛选方法被应用于识别来自不同供应商的一组电子液体中的挥发性和半挥发性化合物,不同的口味,含有不同种类的添加剂,如尼古丁或大麻二酚。为此,样品通过气相色谱准确质谱,使用飞行时间质量分析仪。解卷积电子电离质谱与线性保留指数值的组合,获得两个选择性不同的色谱柱,允许识别250多种具有不同置信水平的化学品。其中,呼吸道促炎化合物,丙二醇和甘油与醛的缩醛,尼古丁相关和非相关生物碱,和精神活性大麻素被证实与电子液体样品中的化合物有关。丙二醇缩醛和母体醛之间的浓度比在2%(乙基香兰素)至大于80%(苯甲醛的情况)的范围内变化。电子液体中δ-9-四氢大麻酚和大麻二酚的浓度之间的比率保持在0.02%至0.3%的范围内。