Determination of Nicotine and Its Metabolites in Hair of Vapers and Non-Vapers Using GC-MS

Abstract

The increasing use of e-cigarettes has caused worries about long-term nicotine exposure. Unlike regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes often have various types, and free-base nicotine might change how it is absorbed into the body. Hair analysis offers a non-invasive and retrospective approach for assessing chronic nicotine exposure. However, limited studies have addressed the determination of nicotine and its metabolites in the hair of vape users. This study aimed to determine and compare nicotine levels in hair samples from vapers and non-vapers using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS).