Flavoring Compounds in e-Liquids Identified by GC-MS: Chemical Insights and Respiratory Toxicity
##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##
Published
Nov 23, 2025
Abstract
The use of e-cigarettes has surged as an alternative to conventional smoking, with e-liquids containing various flavoring chemicals that enhance user experience. However, these flavoring compounds may pose significant health risks when inhaled. This study systematically reviews the chemical composition of e-liquid flavorings identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). A comprehensive literature review was conducted, sourcing articles from PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect published within the last decade. The review focuses on identifying chemical compounds in various e-liquid flavors such as vanilla, bubble gum, coffee, tobacco, strawberry, lemon, and cannabis. Key compounds identified include vanillin, ethyl maltol, cinnamaldehyde, benzaldehyde, and limonene, which contribute to flavor profiles but may also have adverse respiratory effects. Thermal degradation of these compounds can result in the formation of harmful carbonyl compounds like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, both classified as carcinogens. Furthermore, nicotine, a major component in e-liquids, increases the risk of addiction and psychological disorders. This review underscores the need for strict regulations on e-liquid flavoring agents and further research on the long-term effects of inhaling these substances. It also highlights the importance of public awareness regarding the potential respiratory toxicity associated with e-liquids and vaping.
##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Hak Cipta :
Penulis yang mempublikasikan manuskripnya di jurnal ini menyetujui ketentuan berikut:
- Hak cipta pada setiap artikel adalah milik penulis.
- Penulis mengakui bahwa Ranah Research : Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development berhak menjadi yang pertama menerbitkan dengan lisensi Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (Attribution 4.0 International CC BY 4.0) .
- Penulis dapat mengirimkan artikel secara terpisah, mengatur distribusi non-eksklusif manuskrip yang telah diterbitkan dalam jurnal ini ke versi lain (misalnya, dikirim ke repositori institusi penulis, publikasi ke dalam buku, dll.), dengan mengakui bahwa manuskrip telah diterbitkan pertama kali di Ranah Research.
How to Cite
Zulni, S. S., Yuwono, M., Putri, R. E., Nabila, A. and Fathoni, R. A. (2025) “Flavoring Compounds in e-Liquids Identified by GC-MS: Chemical Insights and Respiratory Toxicity”, Ranah Research : Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, 8(1), pp. 772-781. doi: 10.38035/rrj.v8i1.1927.
References
Aszyk, J., Kubica, P., Kacper, M., Namie, J., Wasik, A., & Kot-wasik, A. (2018). Evaluation of flavour profiles in e-cigarette refill solutions using gas chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry. 1547, 86–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2018.03.009
Augustini, A. L. R. M., Sielemann, S., & Telgheder, U. (2021). Strategy for the identification of flavor compounds in e-liquids by correlating the analysis of GCxIMS and GC-MS. Talanta, 230(December 2020), 122318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122318
Barhdadi, S., Rogiers, V., Deconinck, E., & Vanhaecke, T. (2021). Toxicity assessment of flavour chemicals used in e-cigarettes: Current state and future challenges. Archives of Toxicology, 95(8), 2879–2881. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-021-03080-6
Benzene and Cancer Risk. (t.t.). Diambil 28 April 2025, dari https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/benzene.html
Bitzer, Z. T., Goel, R., Reilly, S. M., Elias, R. J., Silakov, A., Foulds, J., Muscat, J., & Jr, P. R. (2018). Effect of Flavoring Chemicals on Free Radical Formation in Electronic Cigarette Aerosols. Free Radic Biol Med, 120, 72–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.03.020.Effect
Ciolino, L. A., Ranieri, T. L., Brueggemeyer, J. L., Taylor, A. M., & Mohrhaus, A. S. (2021). EVALI Vaping Liquids Part 1: GC-MS Cannabinoids Profiles and Identification of Unnatural THC Isomers. Frontiers in Chemistry, 9(September), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2021.746479
Cooper, J., Allen, C., & Cojocariu, C. (2019). Comprehensive chemical characterization of e-cigarette liquids using high-resolution Orbitrap GC-MS. Thermo scientific.
Eddingsaas, N., Pagano, T., Cummings, C., Rahman, I., Robinson, R., & Hensel, E. (2018). Qualitative analysis of e-liquid emissions as a function of flavor additives using two aerosol capture methods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15020323
Erythropel, H. C., Jabba, S. V., DeWinter, T. M., Mendizabal, M., Anastas, P. T., Jordt, S. E., & Zimmerman, J. B. (2019). Formation of flavorant–propylene Glycol Adducts With Novel Toxicological Properties in Chemically Unstable E-Cigarette Liquids. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 21(9), 1248–1258. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/nty192
Gholap, V. V., Kosmider, L., & Halquist, M. S. (2018). A Standardized Approach to Quantitative Analysis of Nicotine in e-Liquids Based on Peak Purity Criteria Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1720375
Goniewicz, M. L., & Stanton, C. A. (2022). Impact of flavour restricting policies on non-cigarette tobacco products. Tobacco Control, 31(Suppl 3), s159–s160. https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2022-057785
Hayati, D. N., Kristina, S. A., & Prabandari, Y. S. (2020). Gambaran Ketergantungan Nikotin pada Rokok Elektronik/Vape Dikalangan Mahasiswa Yogyakarta. Majalah Farmaseutik, 16(2), 170. https://doi.org/10.22146/farmaseutik.v16i2.52211
Hutapea, D. S. M., & Fasya, T. K. (2021). Rokok Elektrik (Vape) sebagai Gaya Hidup Perokok Masa Kini di Kota Lhokseumawe. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik Malikussaleh (JSPM), 2(1), 92. https://doi.org/10.29103/jspm.v2i1.3696
Jasim, S. (2021). Chemical Composition and Product Quality Control of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). AACE Clinical Case Reports, 7(1), 1.
Jensen, R. (2000). Thermal Decomposition of Electronic Cigarette Liquids. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.3076
Krüsemann, E. J. Z., Havermans, A., Pennings, J. L. A., Graaf, K. De, Boesveldt, S., & Talhout, R. (2020). Comprehensive overview of common e- liquid ingredients and how they can be used to predict an e- liquid ’ s flavour category. 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055447
Margareta, M. A. H., & Wonorahardjo, S. (2023). Optimasi Metode Penetapan Senyawa Eugenol dalam Minyak Cengkeh Menggunakan Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrum dengan Variasi Suhu Injeksi. Jurnal Sains dan Edukasi Sains, 6(2), 95–103. https://doi.org/10.24246/juses.v6i2p95-103
Metabolic Methanol: Molecular Pathways and Physiological Roles. (t.t.). https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00034.2014
Nabi, M., & Tabassum, N. (2022). Role of Environmental Toxicants on Neurodegenerative Disorders. Frontiers in Toxicology, 4, 837579. https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2022.837579
Nuriah, S., Putri, M. D., Rahayu, S., Advaita, C. V., Nurfadhila, L., & Utami, M. R. (2023). Analisis Kualitatif Senyawa Parasetamol Pada Sampel Biologis Menggunakan Metode Gas Chromatography—Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Journal of Pharmaceutical and Sciences, 6(2), 795–803. https://doi.org/10.36490/journal-jps.com.v6i2.158
Ooi, B. G., Dutta, D., Kazipeta, K., & Chong, N. S. (2019). Influence of the E-Cigarette Emission Profile by the Ratio of Glycerol to Propylene Glycol in E-Liquid Composition. ACS Omega, 4(8), 13338–13348. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b01504
O’Sullivan, M. G. (2017). Instrumental Assessment of the Sensory Quality of Food and Beverage Products. Dalam A Handbook for Sensory and Consumer-Driven New Product Development (hlm. 151–175). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-100352-7.00008-7
Rahmawati Raharjo, A. D. R. (2021). Penggunaan Rokok Elektrik terhadap Lung Impairment (Gangguan Fungsi Paru). Wiraraja Medika: Jurnal Kesehatan, 10(1), 1–9.
Sansone, L., Milani, F., Fabrizi, R., Belli, M., Cristina, M., Zagà, V., de Iure, A., Cicconi, L., Bonassi, S., & Russo, P. (2023). Nicotine: From Discovery to Biological Effects. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(19), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914570
Sapkota, M., & Wyatt, T. A. (2015). Alcohol, Aldehydes, Adducts and Airways. Biomolecules, 5(4), 2987–3008. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom5042987
Sonawane, H. (2024). Extraction and Characterisation of Flavoured Tobacco by GC-MS Studies and Extraction and Characterisation of Flavoured Tobacco by GC-MS Studies and Validation of Results by GC-FID to Investigate Hazardous Flavour Ingredients. August 2022. https://doi.org/10.9734/ejnfs/2022/v14i930522
Stefaniak, A. B., Lebouf, R. F., Ranpara, A. C., Leonard, S. S., Division, H., Road, W., & Road, W. (2021). Toxicology of flavoring- and cannabis-containing e-liquids used in electronic delivery systems. Pharmacol Ther, 1–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107838.Toxicology
Suryadinata, R. V. (2018). Pengaruh Radikal Bebas Terhadap Proses Inflamasi pada Penyakit Paru Obstruktif Kronis (PPOK). Amerta Nutrition, 2(4), 317. https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v2i4.2018.317-324
Tierney, P. A., Karpinski, C. D., Brown, J. E., Luo, W., & Pankow, J. F. (2016). Flavour chemicals in electronic cigarette fluids. Tobacco Control, 25(E1), e10–e15. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2014-052175
WHO. (2023). Tobacco. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco
Wirajaya, M. K. M., Farmani, P. I., & Laksmini, P. A. (2024). Determinan Penggunaan Rokok Elektrik (Vape) pada Kalangan Remaja di Indonesia. Jurnal Kesehatan Komunitas, 10(2), 237–245.
Augustini, A. L. R. M., Sielemann, S., & Telgheder, U. (2021). Strategy for the identification of flavor compounds in e-liquids by correlating the analysis of GCxIMS and GC-MS. Talanta, 230(December 2020), 122318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122318
Barhdadi, S., Rogiers, V., Deconinck, E., & Vanhaecke, T. (2021). Toxicity assessment of flavour chemicals used in e-cigarettes: Current state and future challenges. Archives of Toxicology, 95(8), 2879–2881. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-021-03080-6
Benzene and Cancer Risk. (t.t.). Diambil 28 April 2025, dari https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/benzene.html
Bitzer, Z. T., Goel, R., Reilly, S. M., Elias, R. J., Silakov, A., Foulds, J., Muscat, J., & Jr, P. R. (2018). Effect of Flavoring Chemicals on Free Radical Formation in Electronic Cigarette Aerosols. Free Radic Biol Med, 120, 72–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.03.020.Effect
Ciolino, L. A., Ranieri, T. L., Brueggemeyer, J. L., Taylor, A. M., & Mohrhaus, A. S. (2021). EVALI Vaping Liquids Part 1: GC-MS Cannabinoids Profiles and Identification of Unnatural THC Isomers. Frontiers in Chemistry, 9(September), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2021.746479
Cooper, J., Allen, C., & Cojocariu, C. (2019). Comprehensive chemical characterization of e-cigarette liquids using high-resolution Orbitrap GC-MS. Thermo scientific.
Eddingsaas, N., Pagano, T., Cummings, C., Rahman, I., Robinson, R., & Hensel, E. (2018). Qualitative analysis of e-liquid emissions as a function of flavor additives using two aerosol capture methods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15020323
Erythropel, H. C., Jabba, S. V., DeWinter, T. M., Mendizabal, M., Anastas, P. T., Jordt, S. E., & Zimmerman, J. B. (2019). Formation of flavorant–propylene Glycol Adducts With Novel Toxicological Properties in Chemically Unstable E-Cigarette Liquids. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 21(9), 1248–1258. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/nty192
Gholap, V. V., Kosmider, L., & Halquist, M. S. (2018). A Standardized Approach to Quantitative Analysis of Nicotine in e-Liquids Based on Peak Purity Criteria Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1720375
Goniewicz, M. L., & Stanton, C. A. (2022). Impact of flavour restricting policies on non-cigarette tobacco products. Tobacco Control, 31(Suppl 3), s159–s160. https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2022-057785
Hayati, D. N., Kristina, S. A., & Prabandari, Y. S. (2020). Gambaran Ketergantungan Nikotin pada Rokok Elektronik/Vape Dikalangan Mahasiswa Yogyakarta. Majalah Farmaseutik, 16(2), 170. https://doi.org/10.22146/farmaseutik.v16i2.52211
Hutapea, D. S. M., & Fasya, T. K. (2021). Rokok Elektrik (Vape) sebagai Gaya Hidup Perokok Masa Kini di Kota Lhokseumawe. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik Malikussaleh (JSPM), 2(1), 92. https://doi.org/10.29103/jspm.v2i1.3696
Jasim, S. (2021). Chemical Composition and Product Quality Control of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). AACE Clinical Case Reports, 7(1), 1.
Jensen, R. (2000). Thermal Decomposition of Electronic Cigarette Liquids. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.3076
Krüsemann, E. J. Z., Havermans, A., Pennings, J. L. A., Graaf, K. De, Boesveldt, S., & Talhout, R. (2020). Comprehensive overview of common e- liquid ingredients and how they can be used to predict an e- liquid ’ s flavour category. 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055447
Margareta, M. A. H., & Wonorahardjo, S. (2023). Optimasi Metode Penetapan Senyawa Eugenol dalam Minyak Cengkeh Menggunakan Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrum dengan Variasi Suhu Injeksi. Jurnal Sains dan Edukasi Sains, 6(2), 95–103. https://doi.org/10.24246/juses.v6i2p95-103
Metabolic Methanol: Molecular Pathways and Physiological Roles. (t.t.). https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00034.2014
Nabi, M., & Tabassum, N. (2022). Role of Environmental Toxicants on Neurodegenerative Disorders. Frontiers in Toxicology, 4, 837579. https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2022.837579
Nuriah, S., Putri, M. D., Rahayu, S., Advaita, C. V., Nurfadhila, L., & Utami, M. R. (2023). Analisis Kualitatif Senyawa Parasetamol Pada Sampel Biologis Menggunakan Metode Gas Chromatography—Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Journal of Pharmaceutical and Sciences, 6(2), 795–803. https://doi.org/10.36490/journal-jps.com.v6i2.158
Ooi, B. G., Dutta, D., Kazipeta, K., & Chong, N. S. (2019). Influence of the E-Cigarette Emission Profile by the Ratio of Glycerol to Propylene Glycol in E-Liquid Composition. ACS Omega, 4(8), 13338–13348. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b01504
O’Sullivan, M. G. (2017). Instrumental Assessment of the Sensory Quality of Food and Beverage Products. Dalam A Handbook for Sensory and Consumer-Driven New Product Development (hlm. 151–175). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-100352-7.00008-7
Rahmawati Raharjo, A. D. R. (2021). Penggunaan Rokok Elektrik terhadap Lung Impairment (Gangguan Fungsi Paru). Wiraraja Medika: Jurnal Kesehatan, 10(1), 1–9.
Sansone, L., Milani, F., Fabrizi, R., Belli, M., Cristina, M., Zagà, V., de Iure, A., Cicconi, L., Bonassi, S., & Russo, P. (2023). Nicotine: From Discovery to Biological Effects. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(19), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914570
Sapkota, M., & Wyatt, T. A. (2015). Alcohol, Aldehydes, Adducts and Airways. Biomolecules, 5(4), 2987–3008. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom5042987
Sonawane, H. (2024). Extraction and Characterisation of Flavoured Tobacco by GC-MS Studies and Extraction and Characterisation of Flavoured Tobacco by GC-MS Studies and Validation of Results by GC-FID to Investigate Hazardous Flavour Ingredients. August 2022. https://doi.org/10.9734/ejnfs/2022/v14i930522
Stefaniak, A. B., Lebouf, R. F., Ranpara, A. C., Leonard, S. S., Division, H., Road, W., & Road, W. (2021). Toxicology of flavoring- and cannabis-containing e-liquids used in electronic delivery systems. Pharmacol Ther, 1–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107838.Toxicology
Suryadinata, R. V. (2018). Pengaruh Radikal Bebas Terhadap Proses Inflamasi pada Penyakit Paru Obstruktif Kronis (PPOK). Amerta Nutrition, 2(4), 317. https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v2i4.2018.317-324
Tierney, P. A., Karpinski, C. D., Brown, J. E., Luo, W., & Pankow, J. F. (2016). Flavour chemicals in electronic cigarette fluids. Tobacco Control, 25(E1), e10–e15. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2014-052175
WHO. (2023). Tobacco. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco
Wirajaya, M. K. M., Farmani, P. I., & Laksmini, P. A. (2024). Determinan Penggunaan Rokok Elektrik (Vape) pada Kalangan Remaja di Indonesia. Jurnal Kesehatan Komunitas, 10(2), 237–245.