In August of 2019, reports of an increasing number of hospitalizations for respiratory difficulties, and in some cases acute respiratory failure, among users of vaping products started to emerge. These incidences of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) were ultimately linked to the vaporization of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products to which vitamin E acetate (VEA) had been added. While the types of products associated with EVALI have been well characterized, one variable that requires deeper consideration is the thermal-based decomposition of components during vaporization. In this current study, we vaporized THC/VEA mixtures using a variety of ceramic coil vaping cartridges and a commercially available vaping device, while simultaneously measuring temperature and collecting the vaporized condensate.<br/><br/>The collected vapor condensate was analyzed for evidence of thermal-based decomposition by GC/MS, HPLC-UV, GC/FT-IR/MS, and LC-APCI-HRMS/MS. The average temperature maxima for all examined cartridges at the selected power exceeded 430°C, with a range of 375–569°C, well beyond that required for thermal decomposition of the THC/VEA mixture. The initial concentration of THC in the THC/VEA mixture was reduced following vaporization in all six cartridges, with percent recoveries ranging from 56.4 to 88.0%. The initial VEA concentration in the THC/VEA mixture was reduced following vaporization in four of the six cartridges, with percent recoveries ranging from 71.5 to 101%. The VEA decomposition products duroquinone (DQ), 1-pristene, and durohydroquinone monoacetate (DHQMA) were identified in the vaporized portions. Additionally, a compound with molecular formula consistent with 4-acetoxy-2,3,5-trimethyl-6-methylene-2,4-cyclohexadienone (ATMMC) was also detected by LC-APCI-HRMS/MS. The identification of these VEA decomposition products indicates that under some conditions pulmonary toxins could be produced from vaping mixtures containing VEA in ceramic coil cartridges.

Analysis of Δ<sup>9</sup>-tetrahydrocannabinol and vitamin E acetate decomposition following vaporization in ceramic coil style cartridges associated with EVALI

ACS Spring 2022

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Analysis of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and vitamin E acetate decomposition following vaporization in ceramic coil style cartridges associated with EVALI

Analysis of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol and vitamin E acetate decomposition following vaporization in ceramic coil style cartridges associated with EVALI