Leachables and Extractables in E-liquid Bottles and Closed ENDS Products
Principal Investigators: Jenna DuMond and Margaret Schmerier
Funding Mechanism: Research Contract
ID number: HHSF223201820229A
Award Date: 8/14/2018
Institution: EAG
Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products can be defined as having a closed-ENDS or open-ENDS design. In closed-ENDS products, e-liquid is contained in a non-refillable reservoir; in open-ENDS products, e-liquid is contained in a refillable reservoir, and may include e-liquid drip tip devices designed to allow individual drops of liquids, waxes, or tobacco to be placed on the atomizing element. E-liquids are commonly packaged in plastic containers manufactured from a variety of polymers, co-polymers, plasticizers, colors, and other additives that may migrate or leach into the e-liquid. The goal of this study is to develop and validate a controlled extraction method to measure extractable compounds from low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles with a plastic dropper and/or rubber stopper, closed ENDS devices, and e-liquid drip tips. If any of the extractables exceed the determined safety threshold, researchers will conduct a study to identify leachable compounds using the e-liquid constituents solvents propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin at various ratios, and a long-term (shelf-life) study of final packaging. Findings will provide new information about the harmful compounds that may leach into e-liquid.