AAAR 35th Annual Conference October 17 - October 21, 2016 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
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Chemical Characterization of Submicron Particulate Matter and Vapors Derived from E-Cigarette Usage
RACHEL LONG, Ilona Jaspers, Phillip Clapp, Barbara Turpin, Jason Surratt, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Abstract Number: 717 Working Group: Electronic Cigarettes - Health Effects
Abstract Advanced electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), or advanced personal vaporizers (AVPs), are increasingly popular. AVPs' larger battery capacity and greater user control of output voltage and wattage allow wicking materials, metal heating coils, and e-liquids to be heated to extremely high temperatures, possibly yielding unintended, potentially toxic thermal-decomposition products in both the gas and aerosol phases. Though some metals and carbonyl species have been previously identified in e-cigarette aerosols, it is unknown how aerosols and gases from AVPs change as a function of e-liquid formulation, output voltage, and wattage. This study aims to characterize molecular-level gas- and aerosol-phase constituents in AVP smoke derived from varying e-liquid formulations, output voltages, and wattages in order to identify known and potentially unknown toxicants. To capture both the gas- and aerosol-phase components, modified PM2.5 filter samplers containing polyurethane foams (PUFs) behind the aerosol filters will be used to collect AVP smoke generated in a 1 m3 Teflon chamber. Advanced offline mass spectrometry techniques not previously employed in e-cigarette research will characterize collected species, including gas chromatography/electron ionization mass spectrometry and ultra performance liquid chromatography interfaced to high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry equipped with electrospray ionization. Online mass spectrometry techniques, including chemical ionization high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry and an aerosol chemical speciation monitor will also characterize emissions in real time. This study will also use the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay to quantify DTT consumption of gas- and aerosol-phase constituents collected by the PM2.5/PUF samplers, allowing for an estimation of the oxidative stress potential of AVP emissions. Enhanced characterization of AVP smoke constituents and better understanding of their oxidative potential will inform future studies aimed at resolving mechanisms of toxicity of e-cigarette smoke.