Chemical Composition of Electronic Vaping Products from School Grounds in California

Ping Wang; Rebecca J Williams; Wenhao Chen; Flavia Wang; Mays Shamout; Lauren J Tanz; Carolyn T A Herzig; Lisa P Oakley; Corey M Peak; Amy Heinzerling; Maeh Al-Shawaf; Paul Melstrom; Kristy Marynak; Michael A Tynan; Israel T Agaku; Kazukiyo Kumagai

doi:10.1093/ntr/ntae042

Chemical Composition of Electronic Vaping Products from School Grounds in California

Nicotine Tob Res. 2024 Feb 26:ntae042. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntae042. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ping Wang¹, Rebecca J Williams², Wenhao Chen¹, Flavia Wang¹, Mays Shamout^{3

4}, Lauren J Tanz⁴, Carolyn T A Herzig⁴, Lisa P Oakley⁴, Corey M Peak⁴, Amy Heinzerling^{4

5}, Maeh Al-Shawaf³, Paul Melstrom³, Kristy Marynak³, Michael A Tynan³, Israel T Agaku³, Kazukiyo Kumagai¹

Affiliations

¹ Air Quality Section, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA.
² California Tobacco Control Program, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, CA, USA.
³ Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁴ Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁵ Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA.

PMID: 38407960
DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntae042

Abstract

Introduction: The use of electronic vaping products (EVPs) containing nicotine, marijuana, and/or other substances remains prominent among youth; with EVPs containing nicotine being the most commonly used tobacco product among youth since 2014. However, a detailed understanding of the chemical composition of these products is limited.

Methods: During February 25th-March 15th, 2019, a total of 576 EVPs, including 233 e-cigarette devices (with 43 disposable vape pens) and 343 e-liquid cartridges/pods/bottled e-liquids, were found or confiscated from a convenience sample of 16 public high schools in California. Liquids inside 251 vape pens and cartridges/pods/bottled e-liquids were analyzed using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). For comparison, new JUUL pods, the most commonly used e-cigarette among youth during 2018-2019, with different flavorings and nicotine content were purchased and analyzed.

Results: For e-cigarette cartridges/pods/bottled e-liquids, nicotine was detected in 204 of 208 (98.1%) samples. Propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) were dominant solvents in nicotine-containing EVPs. Among 43 disposable vape pen devices, cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) were identified in 39 of 43 (90.1%) samples, of which 3 contained both nicotine and THC. Differences in chemical compositions were observed between confiscated or collected JUULs and purchased JUULs. Measured nicotine was inconsistent with labels on some confiscated or collected bottled e-liquids.

Conclusions: EVPs from 16 participating schools were found to widely contain substances with known adverse health effects among youth, including nicotine and cannabinoids. There was inconsistency between labeled and measured nicotine on the products from schools.

Implications: This study measured the main chemical compositions of EVPs found at 16 California public high schools. Continued efforts are warranted, including at the school-level, to educate, prevent and reduce youth use of EVPs.

Keywords: chemical composition; electronic vaping products; nicotine; propylene glycol; vegetable glycerin; youth.

© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.