title: Chemical characterisation of aerosols emitted by electronic cigarettes using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry.
abstract: A non-targeted analytical method, using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry, to detect, identify and semi-quantify volatile and semi-volatile organic constituents of e-cigarette aerosols is presented. A heart-cutting process with a Deans Switch has been applied to avoid saturation of the mass analyser by high-abundance bulk components. Between 30 and 90 compounds were detected in four aerosol samples generated by e-cigarettes, depending on the added flavourings. The method analyses in a single 80mL, 3-second puff, GC-amenable compounds with volatilities ranging between those of propane (C3) and octacosane (C28) and abundance greater than approximately 5ng. Method sensitivity is suitable for the application of thresholds of toxicological concern for product assessment at an exposure threshold of 1.5μg per day. The method is compatible with the high-throughput screening of GC-amenable compounds in e-cigarette aerosols.
authors.affiliation: British American Tobacco, Research & Development, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rawlinson
authors.affiliation: British American Tobacco, Research & Development, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: British American Tobacco, Research & Development, Southampton, UK. Electronic address: Justin_Frosina@bat.com.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frosina
authors.affiliation: British American Tobacco, Research & Development, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000737:chemistry*; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010793:Phthalazines / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D006540:Herbicides; D010793:Phthalazines; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; C043388:phthalazine
keywords: Aerosol; Electronic cigarette; Non-targeted; Thermal desorption; Threshold of toxicological concern; Untargeted