Summary
Introduction:
This article, titled "Electronic cigarette solutions and resultant aerosol profiles" and published in the Journal of Chromatography a in 2015, discusses a study that aimed to evaluate and compare e-cigarette solutions and their resultant aerosol for potential differences. The study used a simple sampling device to draw e-cigarette aerosol into a multi-sorbent thermal desorption (TD) tube, which was then thermally extracted and analyzed using a gas chromatography (GC) mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method.
Key points:
* The study found that the aerosol profiles from four commercially available e-cigarettes contained upwards of eighty two compounds, while the respective solution profiles produced upwards of sixty four compounds.
* The aerosol profiles contained formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and siloxanes, which were not present in the solutions.
* The results suggest that the aerosolization process may be responsible for the formation of compounds not found in the solutions.
* The study highlights the potential implications of e-cigarette aerosol for human health and the need for an emphasis on electronic cigarette aerosol testing.
Main message:
The main message of this article is that e-cigarette solutions and aerosols contain numerous compounds beyond the manufacturer-listed propylene glycol, glycerin, and nicotine. Some of these compounds are known to be detrimental to human health and were detected in the aerosol, although they were not present in the e-cigarette solution. The study emphasizes the need for further research to ascertain the identities and potential health impacts of these unidentified compounds. Overall, the study highlights the importance of fully characterizing e-cigarettes and their aerosols to ensure the safety and well-being of users.
Citation
herrington, Jason S., and Colton Myers. “Electronic Cigarette Solutions and Resultant aerosol Profiles.” Journal of Chromatography a 1418 (October 2015): 192–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2015.09.034.
