Dynamic measurement of newly formed carbonyl compounds in vapors from electronic cigarettes

Recently, the formation of carbonyl compound within e-cigarettes usage has been reported. The aim of this study was to develop a new analytical method for the direct analysis of carbonyl compounds in vaporized liquids. Two different types of e-cigarettes and different puff's duration have been evaluated, using a modified smoking machine for vapor generation. An isotopic dilution approach, based on deuterated internal standard addition to the e-liquid before filling the e-cigarette tank, has been developed. Carbonyl compounds have been sampled in vapors using a direct, simple, solid-phase microextraction technique with on-fiber derivatization. Related oximes have been analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technique. Results confirmed that new carbonyl compounds are formed during the vaping process, and that formation depends both from the heating device and from puffing topography.

Compartmental analysis of metals in waterpipe smoking technique

BACKGROUND

The number of waterpipe tobacco smokers has been increasing worldwide. Smokers can be exposed to a number of toxicants, some of which are metals. The aim of this study is to quantitatively determine if the water filtration stage of the waterpipe smoking process successfully decreases exposure to Bi, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, and U.

METHODS

Four samples of commercially available tobacco (Moassel) were compared in terms of the total amount of metal contained within the fresh tobacco sample and the amount of metal distributed into each compartment of the waterpipe after a smoking session.

RESULTS

For all metals analysed, the concentration of metal 'filtered' out during the water bubbling stage is around 3% (±1%) of the total metal.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that this small fraction would not protect the user against exposure to the majority of the potentially toxic metals.

Significance of smoking machine toxicant yields to blood-level exposure in water pipe tobacco smokers

BACKGROUND

The global increase in tobacco smoking with a water pipe (hookah, narghile, or shisha) has made understanding its health consequences imperative. One key to developing this understanding is identifying and quantifying carcinogens and other toxicants present in water pipe smoke. To do so, the toxicant yield of machine-generated water pipe smoke has been measured. However, the relevance of toxicant yields of machine-generated smoke to actual human exposure has not been established.

METHODS

In this study, we examined whether carbon monoxide (CO) and nicotine yields measured with a smoking machine programmed to replicate the puffing behavior of 31 human participants who smoked a water pipe could reliably predict these participants' blood-level exposure. In addition to CO and nicotine, yields of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, volatile aldehydes, nitric oxide (NO), and "tar" were measured.

RESULTS

We found that when used in this puff-replicating manner, smoking machine yields are highly correlated with blood-level exposure (nicotine: r > 0.76, P < 0.001; CO: r > 0.78, P < 0.001). Total drawn smoke volume was the best predictor of toxicant yield and exposure, accounting for approximately 75% to 100% of the variability across participants in yields of NO, CO, volatile aldehydes, and tar, as well as blood-level CO and normalized nicotine.

CONCLUSIONS

Machine-based methods can be devised in which smoke toxicant yields reliably track human exposure.

IMPACT

This finding indicates the basic feasibility of valid analytic laboratory evaluation of tobacco products for regulatory purposes.