Nicotine-related impurities in e-cigarette cartridges and refill e-liquids

Introduction:
This text is a scientific article that describes a study on the nicotine-related impurities found in e-cigarette cartridges and refill e-liquids. The study developed a sensitive and robust analytical method to quantitate these impurities and evaluated their presence in a variety of commercial e-cigarette products. The article also discusses the transfer efficiency of nicotine-related impurities to the aerosol and the potential exposure to ENDS users.

Key Points:

* The study developed a method for quantitating nicotine-related impurities in e-cigarette cartridges and refill e-liquids using LC-MS.
* The method was validated and applied to evaluate the presence of nicotine-related impurities in 10 e-cigarette cartridges and 10 refill e-liquids.
* Nicotine-N-oxides, nornicotine, myosmine, and cotinine were observed to increase with time during stability studies.
* Most of the impurities were observed to transfer efficiently to the aerosol. however, nicotine-N-oxides showed low transfer efficiency and demonstrated thermal degradation.
* The study identified anabasine as the only nicotine impurity specified by the FDa in e-liquids and aerosols.
* Previous studies have reported variations in nicotine-related impurities among e-cigarette manufacturers and have found that some minor alkaloids exceed USP limits.
* The study's method can be used to evaluate both e-cigarettes and refill e-liquids for quality control studies and during stability studies, where nicotine-related impurities are considered stability-indicating measures.

Main Message:
The study demonstrates the importance of monitoring nicotine-related impurities in e-cigarette cartridges and refill e-liquids. The developed method is sensitive, robust, and suitable for providing quantitative data for risk assessments and stability studies. The study also highlights the potential exposure to nicotine-related impurities in e-vapor products and the need for appropriate stability-indicating measures during rigorous stability studies. Overall, the study emphasizes the need for continued research and regulation of e-cigarette products to ensure their safety and quality.

Flora, Jason W., Celeste T. Wilkinson, Kathleen M. Sink, Diana L. McKinney, and John h. Miller. “Nicotine-Related Impurities in e-Cigarette Cartridges and Refill e-Liquids.” Journal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies 39, no. 17–18 (November 7, 2016): 821–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826076.2016.1266500.