The Chemical Composition of E-liquid and Potential Health Implication in Electronic Cigarettes

Abstract

Public interest in e-cigarettes in Indonesia has increased significantly in recent years. This was initially driven by claims that e-cigarettes as an alternative tool to help individuals quit conventional smoking. However, this product is increasingly attracting teenagers and people who did not previously smoke. This trend is largely due to the composition of e-liquids used in e-cigarettes, which often formulated with flavor compounds such as vanillin, menthol, and various fruit flavors that significantly enhance the sensory characteristics and consumer acceptability of the products. Many of these flavoring compounds are commonly used in food products with regulated limits. However, the toxicological effects of flavoring compounds in inhalation and the maximum exposure limit have not been comprehensively investigated. Moreover, the presence of nicotine as an addictive substance in e-cigarettes can encourage continuous use, consequently increasing the frequency and duration of exposure to flavoring compounds. These conditions raise concerns about potential health risks, particularly among youth who are frequently identified as active users. Therefore, this study aims to determine the concentration of vanillin, one of the most frequently detected flavoring compounds in e-liquids. The analyzed samples include vanilla, mango peach, and banana cream berry flavor variants. The concentration of vanillin was quantified using gas chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). The analytical method was validated using several parameters, including precision, accuracy, linearity, LOD, and LOQ. The results showed that the concentration of vanillin detected in the three analyzed e-liquid samples were 8.36mg/mL, 2.04mg/mL, and 1.28mg/mL, respectively. The findings indicate that vanillin, commonly associated with sweet flavor profiles, was also identified in e-liquids labeled as fruit-flavored. These results highlight the widespread use of flavoring additives in e-cigarette products and emphasize the importance of monitoring their presence due to potential implications for public health.