Screening for Vitamin E Acetate in Cannabinoid Potency Workflow

The United States is experiencing an outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injuries (EVALI). In the latest November reports, over 2,000 cases of EVALI have been reported, and over 40 deaths have been confirmed, according to the CDC.

The CDC has identified vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern, as it was found in all the fluid samples collected from the lungs in patients with EVALI. Vitamin E derived oils are sometimes used as a thickening agent or to dilute THC and increase profits. Normally, Vitamin E is not harmful at low levels when ingested or applied as a topical in lotions.  However, when inhaled, this compound could potentially compromise lung functions.

In turn, cannabis labs are interested in screening for Vitamin E Acetate to help evaluate the quality of vaping products and protect the safety of the consumer. Most states that have legalized some form of cannabis have established regulations for potency, pesticides, mycotoxins, and residual solvents, however Vitamin E Acetate is not yet regulated within the market due to the infancy of this discovery.

Restek recently revised their cannabinoid workflow, scientists have added Vitamin E acetate as part of a modified potency analysis on the Restek Raptor ARC-18 column. Restek is continuing to look at other methods for rapidly screening for Vitamin E Acetate as interest in this compound continues to develop.

*While it appears that vitamin E acetate is associated with EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injuries), evidence is not yet sufficient to rule out contribution of other chemicals of concern to EVALI.  Many different substances and product sources are still under investigation, and it may be that there is more than one cause of this outbreak.

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