Quickly Identify E-Cigarette Dangers: How ASAP-CMS Detects Lethal VEA Additives in 60 Seconds

In recent years, multiple regions have reported numerous cases of vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI), resulting in several deaths. Shockingly, one of the primary culprits behind EVALI is vitamin E acetate (VEA)—a substance commonly found in skincare products! As we all know, VEA is a widely used derivative of vitamin E. Thanks to its high stability, it’s frequently incorporated into cosmetics and dietary supplements. However, vaping manufacturers have been using it to dilute cannabis compounds (THC) or to increase the viscosity of e-liquids. A growing body of research indicates that when VEA is inhaled into the lungs, it can lead to lipid deposition, triggering inflammation and causing lung damage.

AIS Technology Solution: The Cutting-Edge ASAP-CMS Rapid Screening Technology

Research Methodology

In the ASAP/CMS experiment, VEA can be identified using both scanning mode and selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, based on its characteristic ions at m/z 473.5 and m/z 207.0. Among these, m/z 473.5 corresponds to the protonated molecular ion of VEA, while m/z 207.0 is a major fragment ion. By setting the source voltage offset to 30 V, in-source fragmentation was achieved, resulting in an ion intensity ratio between m/z 473.5 and m/z 207.0 that is close to 0.8.

Table 1: Instrument Parameter Settings

Polarity	Positive ion mode
Capillary temperature	250℃
Capillary voltage	120 V
Source voltage offset	30 V
Source gas temperature	350℃
APCI Corona Discharge Needle	5 µA

Experimental results

Detection of VEA standards

ASAP sampling was performed on the VEA solid reference standard. Although the intensities and peak areas of m/z 207.0 and m/z 473.5 varied slightly from run to run, the average peak area ratio was 0.74, with a standard deviation of 0.05 (a coefficient of variation of only 5%), indicating that this method exhibits excellent reproducibility.

Figure 1: (A) Positive-ion ASAP/MS spectrum of VEA. (B) Positive-ion ASAP/SIM spectrum of VEA.

Testing of hand cream containing VEA

Using a hand cream containing VEA as the positive control, the average peak area ratio of m/z 473.5 to m/z 207.0 was 0.84, which is close to the ratio obtained with the VEA reference standard, reflecting their distinct matrix compositions.

Detection of Spiked E-Liquid

In electronic cigarette oil samples No. 3, in which VEA was not detected, spike recovery experiments were conducted by adding VEA at concentrations of 0, 0.00005, 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/mL, respectively. The results showed that when the VEA concentration reached 0.001 mg/mL or higher, the precision of the peak area ratio was less than 10%; however, at concentrations below 0.001 mg/mL, the precision exceeded 15%. This indicates that the ASAP/CMS method can reliably detect VEA concentrations of 0.001 mg/mL or higher with high certainty. Even in samples containing a high matrix concentration at 0.001 mg/mL, the ions at m/z 473.5 and m/z 207.0 could still be easily detected.

Figure 2: Comparison of Peak Area Ratios for the Spiked Series of E-Liquid Sample 3

Figure 3: Mass spectrum of e-liquid spiked with 0.001 mg/mL VEA

Testing of commercially available e-liquids

Eight e-liquid samples purchased from local stores were tested, and none of them tested positive for VEA. Meanwhile, a sample spiked at a concentration of 1 mg/mL was tested, and the results showed that this sample did contain VEA.

Figure 4: Comparison of peak area ratios between different e-liquid samples and the VEA reference standard.

Key Conclusion

Plug-and-Test: The ASAP ion source (atmospheric pressure direct injection analysis probe) enables direct sample introduction of e-liquids.
Dual-ion lock certificate: Double verification by the ratio of peak areas (0.7–0.9) between the characteristic ion peak at m/z 473.5 (VEA molecular ion) and the fragment ion at m/z 207.0;
Anti-interference Expert: Measured 8 commercially available e-liquids plus spiked samples—still highly accurate even in complex matrices (CV < 10%);
3 major advantages: No sample preparation required × Results in 1 minute × Sensitivity: 0.001 mg/mL.

The ASAP-CMS technology provides a rapid, simple, and reliable solution for the detection of VEA in e-liquids, helping to strengthen the regulation of e-cigarette product quality and ensuring the health and safety of consumers!

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