Identification of flavouring chemicals and potential toxicants in e-cigarette products in Ontario, Canada

Q: What was the main objective of the study?

The study examined constituents of e-cigarette products on the Canadian market, with a focus on Ontario.

Q: How were e-cigarette products and chemicals identified and measured?

Products were purchased from retail outlets and analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry; tobacco-specific nitrosamines were quantified using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

Q: What proportion of products contained measurable tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs)?

Measurable TSNAs were detected in 70% of the tested products.

Aug 24, 2026

Upload by Riley West

Objectives focused on constituents of e-cigarette products available in Canada, emphasizing Ontario. E-cigarettes were systematically purchased from 80 retail outlets across four Ontario cities in January–February 2015. Product constituents were identified using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, while tobacco-specific nitrosamines were quantified using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Among 166 products, sweet flavors showed more flavoring chemicals, with 21% containing inhalation-toxicant potential and TSNAs measurable in 70%, indicating excess risk concerns and policy gaps.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Canadian Journal of Public Health [https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-019-00208-1](https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-019-00208-1) QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH Identification of flavouring chemicals and potential toxicants in e-cigarette products in Ontario, Canada Christine D. Czoli 1 & Maciej L. Goniewicz 2 & Mary Palumbo 2 & Noel Leigh 2 & Christine M. White 1 & David Hammond 1 Received: 4 July 2018 /Accepted: 25 March 2019 \# The Canadian Public Health Association 2019 Abstract Objectives The current study examined constituents ofe-cigarette products on the Canadian market, with a focus on the province of Ontario. Methods E-cigarettes were systematically purchased at 80 retail outlets across 4 cities in Ontario, Canada, in January–February 2015. Product constituents were identified using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Additionally, tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) were quantified in tested products using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Results A total of 166 e-cigarette products were purchased, including disposable products (33%), refillable products (14%), ande-liquids (53%) . Overall, e-cigarette products had an average of 6.2 (SD = 3.6) flavouring chemicals. E-cigarettes with sweet flavours (e.g., desserts, alcoholic drinks) had a significantly greater number of flavouring chemicals when compared with tobacco-and menthol-flavoured products (p < 0.05) . Approximately one fifth (21%) of products contained flavouring chemicals with potential risk of inhalation toxicity (benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, vanillin) . An additional 8 toxicants (e.g., acrolein, diacetyl) were detected in a total of 14 e-cigarette products. Measurable levels ofTSNAs were detected in 70% of tested products. Conclusion E-cigarettes purchased in Ontario, Canada, contained several constituents that may present excess risk, including some flavouring chemicals and carcinogenic nitrosamines. Further research is needed to determine whether the levels of these constituents have implications for the magnitude of risk to users. The findings reveal several policy gaps that maybe addressed by developing regulatory product standards and labelling practices for e-cigarettes. Résumé Objectifs Examiner les ingrédients des produits de cigarette électronique en vente sur le marché canadien, en particulier dans la province de l’Ontario. Méthode Des cigarettes électroniques ont été systématiquement achetées dans 80 points de vente au détail de 4 villes del’Ontario, au Canada, en janvier-février 2015. Les ingrédients de ces produits ont été identifiés par chromatographie en phase gazeuse et par spectrométrie de masse. De plus, les nitrosamines spécifiques du tabac (NAST) ont été quantifiées par chromatographie en phase liquide avec spectrométrie de masse en tandem dans les produits testés. Résultats En tout, 166 produits de cigarette électronique ont été achetés, dont des produits jetables (33 %), des produits rechargeables (14 %) et des e-liquides (53 %). Dans l’ensemble, les produits de cigarette électronique contenaient en moyenne 6,2 (écart-type = 3,6) arômes chimiques. Les cigarettes électroniques aux arômes sucrés (desserts, boissons alcoolisées) comptaient un nombre significativement plus important d’arômes chimiques que les produits aromatisés au tabac et au menthol (p < 0,05) . Environ un cinquième (21 %) des produits contenaient des arômes chimiques comportant un risque potentiel de toxicité par inhalation (alcool benzylique, benzaldéhyde, vanilline). Huit autres substances toxiques (p. ex. acroléine, diacétyle) ont été détectées dans 14 produits de cigarette électronique. Des niveaux mesurables de NAST ont été détectés dans 70 % des produits testés. * David Hammond [dhammond@uwaterloo.ca](dhammond@uwaterloo.ca) 1 School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada 2 Department of Health Behavior, Division of Cancer Preve

FAQs

What was the main objective of the study?

The study examined constituents of e-cigarette products on the Canadian market, with a focus on Ontario.

How were e-cigarette products and chemicals identified and measured?

Products were purchased from retail outlets and analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry; tobacco-specific nitrosamines were quantified using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

What proportion of products contained measurable tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs)?

Measurable TSNAs were detected in 70% of the tested products.

Aug 24, 2026

Upload by Riley West