No Quantifiable Carbonyls, Including Formaldehyde, Detected in Voke^® Inhaler

Abstract

Carbonyls such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein have been detected in e-cigarette vapors, with one study (albeit at a higher than the typical voltage) reporting formaldehyde-releasing agents in quantities sufficient to increase the risk of cancer by 5–15 fold when compared with long-term smoking. This study examines the Voke® Inhaler for traces of carbonyls and aims to quantify any that are detected in its aerosol. Three batches of five Voke® devices each were charged with formulation and allowed to rest for 0, 1, and 24 hr respectively, before being sampled. Aerosol from each device was extracted using a linear smoking machine and collected by dissolution into DNPH derivatization solution. Samples of the extract solution were analyzed for carbonyls using UHPLC. Results were reported as µg/8 puffs. Samples were analyzed for the presence of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, acrolein, propionaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, butan-2-one, and butyraldehyde. At the given LOD, no carbonyls were detected in 13 of the 15 samples tested. Acetaldehyde was detected in two samples, one tested immediately after charging and the other tested 1 hr after sampling; however, both samples contained the analyte in quantities below its LOQ (3.18 µg/mL). Among various carbonyls, formaldehyde, in particular, has been identified as a known carcinogen by the IARC and as a probable human carcinogen by the US EPA. The absence of measurable quantities of carbonyls in the Voke® Inhaler establishes its clear distinction from e-cigarettes and reflects on a significant advantage of not having a heating element.

Keywords::

• carbonyls
• formaldehyde
• Voke® Inhaler
• e-cigarette
• acetaldehyde and thermal degradation

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Alan Silcock, BSc (hons), DPhil (Nicovations Limited) for his review during the development of this manuscript.

Supplemental Material

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