Screening for Vitamin E Acetate in Cannabinoid Potency Workflow

The United States is currently facing an outbreak of lung injuries linked to e-cigarette or vaping product use, known as EVALI. As of the latest reports in November, more than 2,000 EVALI cases have been confirmed, along with over 40 deaths, according to the CDC.

The CDC has highlighted vitamin E acetate as a key chemical of concern, as it has been detected in all fluid samples collected from the lungs of EVALI patients. This vitamin E-derived oil is sometimes used as a thickening agent or to dilute THC, boosting profits. While vitamin E is generally safe at low levels when ingested or applied topically in lotions, it becomes harmful when inhaled.  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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