Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of nicotine and minor tobacco alkaloids in electronic cigarette refill liquids and second-hand generated aerosol: Famele et al.

Introduction:
This text describes the development and validation of a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of nicotine and seven minor tobacco alkaloids in both refill liquids for electronic cigarettes and their generated aerosol. The method was applied to evaluate the compliance of commercial liquids with their labels and to assess levels of minor alkaloids. The study also compared nicotine emissions from electronic cigarettes and conventional cigarettes.

Key Points:

* The LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of nicotine and seven minor tobacco alkaloids in both refill liquids for electronic cigarettes and their generated aerosol.
* The method was applied to evaluate the compliance of 95 commercial liquids with their labels and to assess levels of minor alkaloids.
* Nicotine average emissions from electronic cigarettes (2.7 ± 0.9 µg/m3) were significantly lower (p < 0.01, t-test) than those from conventional cigarettes (30.2 ± 1.5 µg/m3).
* about 47% of samples showed differences above ±10% of the stated nicotine concentration.
* about 78% of the "zero nicotine" liquids showed traces in the range of 1.3 ± 0.1-254.0 ± 14.6 µg/mL.
* Nicotine-N'-oxides, myosmine, and anatabine were the most common minor alkaloids in liquids containing nicotine.
* Nicotine and N'-oxides were detected in all air samples when aerosol was generated from liquids containing nicotine.

Main Message:
The study demonstrates the development and validation of a sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of nicotine and seven minor tobacco alkaloids in refill liquids for electronic cigarettes and their generated aerosol. The method was applied to evaluate the compliance of commercial liquids with their labels and to assess levels of minor alkaloids. The study also shows that nicotine emissions from electronic cigarettes are significantly lower than those from conventional cigarettes, but there is still a significant portion of commercial liquids that do not comply with their labels. additionally, the study found that nicotine and N'-oxides were detected in all air samples when aerosol was generated from liquids containing nicotine. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and regulating the composition and emissions of refill liquids for electronic cigarettes.

Famele, Marco, Jolanda Palmisani, Carolina Ferranti, Carmelo abenavoli, Luca Palleschi, Rosanna Mancinelli, Rosanna Maria Fidente, Gianluigi De Gennaro, and Rosa Draisci. “Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for the Determination of Nicotine and Minor Tobacco alkaloids in Electronic Cigarette Refill Liquids and Second-hand Generated aerosol: Famele et al.” Journal of Separation Science 40, no. 5 (March 2017): 1049–56. https://doi.org/10.1002/jssc.201601076.