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. 2024 Oct 28;48(8):606-615.
doi: 10.1093/jat/bkae060.

A multi-year characterization of confiscated vaping products from Virginia school youth

Alaina K Holt  1 , Meredith G Buckmire  1 , Kelsey S Moss  1 , Jessemia Meekins  1 , Ashleigh E Outhous  1 , Laerissa Reveil  1 , Akira B Goden  2   3 , Cosima Hoetger  2   3   4 , Alisha Eversole  2   3 , Justin L Poklis  5 , Eric K Soule  3   6 , Caroline O Cobb  2   3 , Michelle R Peace  1
Affiliations

A multi-year characterization of confiscated vaping products from Virginia school youth

Alaina K Holt et al. J Anal Toxicol. .

Abstract

The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulatory oversight over electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) includes access restriction for persons <21 years of age and flavor restrictions for "cartridge-based" products. Despite the restrictions, consumption by US youth perseveres. Studies on youth e-cig use are limited by the reliability and accuracy of self-reports. As an alternative to self-reports, the current study examined nicotine, cannabinoid, and unlabeled e-cigs and other vaping products confiscated from Virginia public schools to characterize trends among students. Findings highlight a shift from JUUL and pod-based products to single use disposable e-cigs following the FDA flavor restrictions on cartridge-based e-cigs. Chemical analysis of e-liquids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified a wide variety of flavorants and an increase in the prevalence of synthetic coolants. Most confiscated products were nicotine salt formulations, but the prevalence of cannabinoid-based vaping products increased. The popularity of flavored disposable e-cigs highlights the need for further restrictions to reduce youth consumption. The increasing use of synthetic coolants instead of menthol may suggest that manufacturers are employing tactics to bypass regulations. Continued youth access to e-cigs and the abundance of cannabinoid-based products is problematic from health and safety perspectives. Continued research incorporating confiscated product analysis can be used to understand youth access to vaping products and evolutions in manufacturing practices.

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Conflict of interest statement

E.K.S. is named on a patent application for a smartphone app that determines electronic cigarette device and liquid characteristics. All other authors have nothing to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The 100 ng/mL calibrator (a) total ion chromatogram, (b) mixed internal standards, (c–i) transition ions for all other cannabinoids of interest, and (j) chromatogram from the “Torch Burnout blend” confiscated product. In (a), the color of the cannabinoid label corresponds to the color of the peak; in (b–i), the color of the peak corresponds to the transition ions.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Total ion chromatograms from the untargeted analysis of (a) an Elf Bar product; (b) a Dazed8 product; and (c) material in a smoking pipe.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Holt AK, Poklis JL, Peace MR. A retrospective analysis of chemical constituents in regulated and unregulated E-cigarette liquids. Front Chem 2021;9:854. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2021.752342 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Holt AK, Poklis JL, Cobb CO et al. Identification of gamma-butyrolactone in JUUL liquids. J Anal Toxicol 2021;45:892–900. doi: 10.1093/jat/bkab067 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Holt AK, Karin KN, Butler SN et al. Cannabinoid-based vaping products and supplement formulations reported by consumers to precipitate adverse effects. Drug Test Anal 2023;15:1067–76. doi: 10.1002/dta.3253 - DOI - PMC - PubMed