Top

Published in:

10-08-2022 | Smoking and Nicotine Detoxification | Short Communication

Analysis of vaporized caffeine in smoke from e-cigarettes using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and clarification of minor components

Authors: Makoto Takada, Suzuna Saruwatari, Yutaro Yanagita, Junpei Mutoh, Hajime Harada, Naoya Kishikawa, Takashi Kitahara, Naotaka Kuroda, Mitsuhiro Wada

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 1/2023

Abstract

Purpose

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are used widely, and e-cigarettes containing caffeine (Caf) have recently become commercially available. However, no risk evaluation of these Caf-containing products has been performed to date. Such an evaluation requires a sensitive analytical method for quantifying Caf in smoke from e-cigarettes. The aim of this study was to establish a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for quantifying vaporized Caf from commercially available e-cigarettes, and to determine minor components related to Caf in cigarette smoke extract (CSE).

Methods

A sampling system for Caf using a suction pump was designed and sampling conditions were optimized.

Results

The optimized LC–MS/MS conditions allowed the sensitive determination of Caf in smoke with a limit of detection of 0.03 ng/mL at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The method was applied to CSEs from five e-cigarette products and the concentration of Caf ranged from 0.894 ± 0.090 to 3.32 ± 0.14 μg/mL smoke (n = 3). Additionally, minor components related to Caf, such as theobromine, theophylline, and paraxanthine, were detected in CSE and in e-liquid at very low concentrations, indicating that they were impurities in e-liquid and vaporized along with Caf.

Conclusion

This is the first report to determine the concentration of vaporized Caf using an LC–MS/MS method and to clarify several minor components in smoke from e-cigarettes.

Simonavicius E, McNeill A, Shahab L, Brose LS (2019) Heat-not-burn tobacco products: a systematic literature review. Tob Control 28:582–594. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054419CrossRef

Layden JE, Ghinai I, Pray I, Kimball A, Layer M, Tenforde MW, Navon L, Hoots B, Salvatore PP, Elderbrook M, Haupt T, Kanne J, Patel MT, Saathoff-Huber L, King BA, Schier JG, Mikosz CA, Meiman J (2020) Pulmonary illness related to e-cigarette use in Illinois and Wisconsin—final report. N Engl J Med 38:2903–2916. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1911614CrossRef

Gotts JE, Jordt SE, McConnell R, Tarran R (2019) What are the respiratory effects of e-cigarettes? BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l5275CrossRef

Stephens WE (2018) Comparing the cancer potencies of emissions from vaporized nicotine products including e-cigarettes with those of tobacco smoke. Tob Control. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-053808CrossRef

Talio MC, Zambrano K, Kaplan M, Acosta M, Gil RA, Luconi MO, Fernández LP (2018) New solid surface fluorescence methodology for lead traces determination using rhodamine B as fluorophore and coacervation scheme: application to lead quantification in e-cigarette refill liquids. Talanta 143:315–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2015.04.078143315-319CrossRef

Lu X, Chen L, Yuan J, Luo J, Luo J, Xie Z, Li D (2020) User perceptions of different electronic cigarette flavors on social media: observational study. J Med Internet Res 22:e17280. https://doi.org/10.2196/17280CrossRef

Angerer A, Franz F, Moosmann B, Bisel P, Auwärter V (2019) 5F-Cumyl-PINACA in ‘e-liquids’ for electronic cigarettes: comprehensive characterization of a new type of synthetic cannabinoid in a trendy product including investigations on the in vitro and in vivo phase I metabolism of 5F-Cumyl-PINACA and its non-fluorinated analog Cumyl-PINACA. Forensic Toxicol 37:186–196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-018-0451-8CrossRef

Avisar R, Avisar E, Weinberger D (2002) Effect of coffee consumption on intraocular pressure. Ann Pharmacother 36:992–995. https://doi.org/10.1345/aph.1A279CrossRef

Kohl BA, Kaur K, Dincher N, Schumann J, Carachilo T, Komurek C (2020) Acute intentional caffeine overdose treated preemptively with hemodialysis. Am J Emerg Med 38:692.e1-692.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2019.09.018CrossRef

10.

Eichner ER (2014) Fatal caffeine overdose and other risks from dietary supplements. Curr Sports Med Rep 13:353–354. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000094CrossRef

11.

Andrade A, Sousa C, Pedro M, Fernandes M (2018) Dangerous mistake: an accidental caffeine overdose. BMJ Case Rep. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2018-224185CrossRef

12.

Usui K, Fujita Y, Kamijo Y, Igari Y, Funayama M (2021) LC-MS/MS method for rapid and accurate detection of caffeine in a suspected overdose case. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 107:106946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vascn.2020.106946CrossRef

13.

Bekki K, Uchiyama S, Ohta K, Inaba Y, Nakagome H, Kunugita N (2014) Carbonyl compounds generated from electronic cigarettes. Int J Environ Res Public Health 11:11192–11200. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph111111192CrossRef

14.

Khlystov A, Samburova V (2016) Flavoring compounds dominate toxic aldehyde production during e-cigarette vaping. Environ Sci Technol 50:13080–13085. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b06030CrossRef

15.

Horinouchi T, Miwa S (2021) Comparison of cytotoxicity of cigarette smoke extract derived from heat-not-burn and combustion cigarettes in human vascular endothelial cells. J Pharmacol Sci 147:223–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphs.2021.07.005CrossRef

16.

Mohana S, Roopa N (2012) Study on extraction of caffeine from tea leaves (Camellia Sinensis). Ind J Forensic Med Toxicol 6:19–23

17.

Ueda K, Nakao M (2019) Effects of transpulmonary administration of caffeine on brain activity in healthy men. Brain Sci 9:222. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci9090222CrossRef

18.

Dalmázio I, Santos LS, Lopes RP, Eberlin MN, Augusti R (2005) Advanced oxidation of caffeine in water: on-line and real-time monitoring by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Environ Sci Technol 39:5982–5988. https://doi.org/10.1021/es047985vCrossRef

Title: Analysis of vaporized caffeine in smoke from e-cigarettes using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and clarification of minor components
Authors: Makoto Takada
Suzuna Saruwatari
Yutaro Yanagita
Junpei Mutoh
Hajime Harada
Naoya Kishikawa
Takashi Kitahara
Naotaka Kuroda
Mitsuhiro Wada
Publication date: 10-08-2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore
Keyword: Smoking and Nicotine Detoxification
Published in: Forensic Toxicology / Issue 1/2023
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-022-00636-8

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Analysis of vaporized caffeine in smoke from e-cigarettes using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and clarification of minor components

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2023

Rapid quantification of phenobarbital and barbital in human whole blood by liquid–liquid extraction combined with DART-orbitrap-HRMS

An unusual case of fatal hypothermia involving topical diphenhydramine

Analysis of 2,5-dimethoxy-amphetamines and 2,5-dimethoxy-phenethylamines aiming their determination in biological matrices: a review

Newly emerging synthetic cannabinoid ADB-4en-PINACA: its identification and quantification in an authentic human hair sample by GC–MS/MS

A review of synthetic cathinones emerging in recent years (2019–2022)

Analysis of degradation products of nerve agents in biological fluids by ion chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry