analysis of Traces of Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines (TSNas) in USP Grade Nicotine, E-Liquids, and Particulate Phase Generated by the Electronic Smoking Devices

Introduction:
This text describes the development of a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique for the analysis of trace levels of four tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNas) in USP grade nicotine, e-liquids, and the particulate phase generated by electronic smoking devices. The study highlights the challenges in analyzing TSNas in nicotine due to the high concentration of nicotine compared to TSNas.

Key Points:

* The study used a Luna Omega 1.6 µm particles chromatographic column for separation and detection on a LC-MS/MS instrument with scheduled multiple reaction monitoring (Scheduled MRM).
* The TSNa levels in USP grade nicotine from four commercial sources varied between 3 to 8 ng/g NaB, 4 to 20 ng/g NaT, 30 to 50 ng/g NNK, and 0.5 to 2 ng/g for NNN.
* The technique has been successfully applied in the analysis of TSNas in e-liquids and in the particulate phase generated by electronic smoking devices.
* The study highlights the challenges in analyzing TSNas in nicotine due to the high concentration of nicotine compared to TSNas.
* The new method allows for good separation of TSNas from the much larger nicotine peak, such that nicotine has no significant influence on TSNa quantitation.
* The levels of TSNas in USP grade nicotine samples were very low, except for NNK that although low was found in the range of 30--50 ng/g.
* The method was also successfully applied for the analysis of TSNas in several e-liquids and particulate phase condensate from commercially available e-cigarettes and e-tanks.

Main Message:
The study describes a new LC-MS/MS technique for the analysis of trace levels of TSNas in USP grade nicotine, e-liquids, and the particulate phase generated by electronic smoking devices. The study highlights the challenges in analyzing TSNas in nicotine due to the high concentration of nicotine compared to TSNas, but the new method allows for good separation of TSNas from the much larger nicotine peak, such that nicotine has no significant influence on TSNa quantitation. The method was successfully applied in the analysis of TSNas in e-liquids and in the particulate phase generated by electronic smoking devices, demonstrating its versatility. Overall, the study contributes to the development of more sensitive methods for the analysis of TSNas in e-cigarette aerosol condensates.

Moldoveanu, Serban C., Jeff Zhu, and Nancy qian. “analysis of Traces of Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines (TSNas) in USP Grade Nicotine, E-Liquids, and Particulate Phase Generated by the Electronic Smoking Devices.” Beiträge Zur Tabakforschung International/Contributions to Tobacco Research 27, no. 6 (april 1, 2017): 86–96. https://doi.org/10.1515/cttr-2017-0009.