Effect of volatilization of e-liquid on electronic cigarette aerosol composition.

Abstract: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are increasing in popularity despite uncertainties about
their health hazards. Literature studies have shown that e-cigarettes may be a source of toxic heavy
metal exposure to the user, but the mechanism by which metals are transferred from the e-cigarette
parts into the aerosol plume that is inhaled by the user is poorly understood. The goal of this
study was to quantify the potentially harmful heavy metals chromium, nickel, copper, and lead
systematically during the simulated use of a mod-type e-cigarette in order to better understand the
mechanism of metal transfer from the e-cigarette parts into the aerosol plume and into the liquid in
the storage tank. Aerosol was collected and aliquots of the remaining liquid in the storage tank were
collected from 0 to 40 puffs in 10 puff increments and analyzed with atomic absorption spectroscopy.
It was found that the concentration of metals increased in both the aerosol and tank liquid the more
times the e-cigarette was puffed, but at varying rates for each element and depending on the power
applied to the heating coil. For copper, lead, and nickel, the concentrations of metals in the aerosol
and tank increased with increasing power but for chromium, the concentration varied with power.
Additionally, it was observed that chromium and nickel concentrations were greater in the aerosol
than in tank liquid, consistent with the direct transfer of those metals to the aerosol from heating of
the nichrome coil element used in this study. For copper and lead, the concentrations were similar or
greater in the tank compared to the aerosol, consistent with transfer first into the storage tank liquid,
followed by vaporization into the aerosol.

Polgampola Ralalage CR, hensel EC, Robinson RJ, DiFrancesco G, Eddingsaas NC. Effect of volatilization of e-liquid on electronic cigarette aerosol composition. In: abstracts, Northeast Regional Meeting of the american Chemical Society, Rochester, NY, United States, October 2-5. american Chemical Society; 2022:NERM.