Exposure to Toxicologically Relevant Inorganic Elements and Nicotine Content Variability in Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) E-Liquids

IF 4.1 3区医学 Q2 CHEMISTRY, MEDICINAL

Chemical Research in Toxicology Pub Date : 2026-09-21 Epub Date: 2026-08-31 DOI:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6c00266

Lara M. Catarino, Giovanna M. Iozzi, Cristiane B. Silva, Santos A.V. Neto, Graziele A. Reis, Silvana C. Jacob, Lisia M. G. dos Santos

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

In recent years, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have gained prominence as alternatives to conventional cigarettes, raising concerns due to the increasing number of lung injury cases associated with their use. These devices rely on e-liquids composed primarily of propylene glycol, glycerin, flavorings, and nicotine, which are heated to produce inhalable aerosols. In this context, the present study aimed to quantify nicotine concentrations and assess the presence of toxicologically relevant inorganic elements in e-liquids to evaluate potential inhalation-related risks. Nicotine was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC–DAD), whereas inorganic contaminants were determined using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). Nicotine concentrations ranged from nondetectable to 33.4 mg·mL^–1, and significant discrepancies were identified in the labeling information. Arsenic (As), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and mercury (Hg) were detected at variable concentrations; notably, the estimated daily exposures for Cr and Hg exceeded the permitted daily exposure (PDE) limits established by the International Council for Harmonization (ICH). Overall, these findings indicate that ENDS may be a significant source of toxic metal exposure, posing potential risks to human health.

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电子尼古丁输送系统（ENDS）电子液体中与毒理学相关的无机元素暴露和尼古丁含量变化

近年来，电子尼古丁传递系统（ENDS）作为传统香烟的替代品已经获得了突出的地位，由于使用电子烟引起的肺损伤病例越来越多，引起了人们的关注。这些设备依赖于主要由丙二醇、甘油、调味剂和尼古丁组成的电子液体，加热后产生可吸入的气溶胶。在此背景下，本研究旨在量化尼古丁浓度并评估电子烟液体中与毒理学相关的无机元素的存在，以评估潜在的吸入相关风险。尼古丁采用高效液相色谱二极管阵列检测（HPLC-DAD）定量，无机污染物采用电感耦合等离子体质谱（ICP-MS）测定。尼古丁浓度范围从无法检测到33.4 mg·mL-1，在标签信息中发现了显著差异。检测不同浓度的砷（As）、铅（Pb）、镍（Ni）、铬（Cr）和汞（Hg）；值得注意的是，估计的铬和汞的每日暴露量超过了国际协调理事会（ICH）规定的允许每日暴露量（PDE）限值。总体而言，这些研究结果表明，ends可能是有毒金属暴露的一个重要来源，对人类健康构成潜在风险。

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来源期刊

Chemical Research in Toxicology 医学-毒理学

CiteScore

7.90

自引率

7.30%

发文量

215

审稿时长

3.5 months

期刊介绍： Chemical Research in Toxicology publishes Articles, Rapid Reports, Chemical Profiles, Reviews, Perspectives, Letters to the Editor, and ToxWatch on a wide range of topics in Toxicology that inform a chemical and molecular understanding and capacity to predict biological outcomes on the basis of structures and processes. The overarching goal of activities reported in the Journal are to provide knowledge and innovative approaches needed to promote intelligent solutions for human safety and ecosystem preservation. The journal emphasizes insight concerning mechanisms of toxicity over phenomenological observations. It upholds rigorous chemical, physical and mathematical standards for characterization and application of modern techniques.