Characterization of the Aerosol Yield and Toxic Emissions Profile from the Addition of Terpene Flavorants when Vaping Delta-8 and Delta-10 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Distillate on a Cannabis Vaping Device

HAYLEE HUNSAKER, Elizabeth Chiu, Nicholas Robertson, Tran Nguyen, University of California, Davis

     Abstract Number: 564
     Working Group: Aerosol Chemistry

Abstract
The 2018 Farm Bill that legalized industrial hemp has contributed to the wide commercial availability of hemp-derived tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) isomers: delta-8 and delta-10 THC. Vaping the neat distillate of these THC isomers in an electronic (e-) cigarette device is becoming popular among youth. The distillate is either vaped by itself or with the addition of terpenes flavorants. This study investigates the aerosol formation and production of harmful and potentially harmful carbonyls in the aerosols produced from vaping delta-8 distillate, delta-10 distillate, and distillate mixed with a commercial terpenes mixture at varying mass concentrations on a cannabis vaping device equipped with a ceramic coil. We quantified the emission yields of 20 carbonyls and organic acids using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry for exact mass determinations. Our results suggest that carbonyl emission profile is highly influenced by the terpene mix concentrations, with the exception of propionaldehyde and glyceraldehyde; however, the aerosol concentration yields from vaping did not significantly change upon addition of terpenes to the THC distillates. Little to no differences in carbonyl formation and aerosol yield were observed between the two THC isomers. This work suggests that the addition of terpenes to THC distillate generally increases the production of carbonyl toxicants within the vaping device, as the terpene additives are likely the most easily degraded component of the vape liquid solution.