Determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) levels from various smoking cessation aids by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methodology

ABSTRACT

An analytical method was validated and developed to determine the levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, acrylonitrile, benzene, toluene, and styrene from smoking cessation aids using by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Seventeen non-ignitable cigarette type of smoking cessation aids, liquid-phase of smoking cessation aids, gas-phase of smoking cessation aids, and ignitable cigarette type of smoking cessation aids were analyzed for levels of six VOCs. The proposed method for six VOCs was validated in satisfactory linearity (R² > 0.99), recovery (80.38–119.14%). limit of detection (LOD) (0.05–0.19 μg/ml), limit of quantification (LOQ) (0.07–0.18 μg/ml), accuracy (80.47–117.28%), and precision (0.15–7.22%). The mean concentrations of six VOCs were generated in 1,3-butadiene (6.18 μg/cigarette), isoprene (0.34 μg/cigarette), acrylonitrile (0.003 μg/cigarette), benzene (ND = not detected, the lower limit of detection), toluene (0.27 μg/cigarette), styrene (0.13 μg/cigarette). Results showed low levels of VOCs from smoking cessation aid except from liquid-phase of smoking cessation aids. These results are necessary to investigate unintentional hazardous substances generated from smoking cessation aids, and develop accurate analytical method in order to obtain scientific basis for safety management.

KEYWORDS:

• Volatile organic compounds
• smoking cessation aids
• gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
• analytical method
• unintentional hazardous substances

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Republic of Korea, in 2018–2019 under Grant [number 18172MFDS236].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a grant number [A117-00197-0703-0] from the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute and a grant number [18172MFDS236] from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2018-2019.