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. 2019 Nov 13;16(22):4450.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph16224450.

Analysis of Toxic Metals in Liquid from Electronic Cigarettes

Naudia Gray  1 , Mary Halstead  2 , Nathalie Gonzalez-Jimenez  1 , Liza Valentin-Blasini  1 , Clifford Watson  1 , R Steven Pappas  1
Affiliations

Analysis of Toxic Metals in Liquid from Electronic Cigarettes

Naudia Gray et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

As the technology of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), including e-cigarettes, evolves, assessing metal concentrations in liquids among brands over time becomes challenging. A method for quantification of chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, tin, and lead in ENDS liquids using triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed. The method's limits of detection (LODs) were 0.031, 0.032, 3.15, 1.27, 0.108, 0.099, 0.066 µg/g for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, and Pb respectively. Liquids analyzed were from different brands and flavors of refill bottles or single-use, rechargeable, and pod devices from different years. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy further evaluated the device components' compositions. Refill liquids before contacting a device were below lowest reportable levels (LRL) for all metals. Copper and zinc were elevated in liquids from devices containing brass. Cadmium was <LRL in all liquids and was not observed in device components. Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, and Pb, reported in µg/g, ranged from <LRL to 0.396, 4.04, 903, 454, 0.898, and 13.5 respectively. Elevated metal concentrations in the liquid were also elevated in aerosol from the corresponding device. The data demonstrates the impact of device design and materials on toxic metals in ENDS liquid.

Keywords: ENDS; e-cigarettes; e-liquid; electronic cigarettes; inorganic; metals; vapes; vaping.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SEM image with EDS elemental mapping of a representative brass connector. Silicon- and oxygen-containing fibers are from the device wick.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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