Characterizing Emissions from Heating Simulated Cannabis Extracts

L. CANCELADA; L.A. GUNDEL; X. TANG; M.I. LITTER; M.R. RUSSELL; H. DESTAILLATS

Conferencia; AAAR 37th Annual Conference; 2019

Since the legalization of personal possession and recreational use of marijuana in California in 2016, there have been rapid increases in new ways to consume cannabis. The ?Dabbing? method is growing quickly in popularity. In this practice ?dabbers? place a small amount of cannabis extract on a heated surface to allow vaporization, then inhale the aerosol. This presentation focuses on understanding the composition of aerosol emitted during dabbing and its impacts on human health and indoor air quality because little information is currently available. Completely vaporizing the cannabinoids requires high temperature (as high as 400°C). Other main ingredients in the cannabis extract, such as terpenes and terpenoids, may partially decompose and form undesired harmful byproducts as gases and particles are inhaled by the user and released to indoor air. Similar emissions may be generated in smoking and vaping cannabis products.This study assessed emissions from non-cannabinoid substances in cannabis extracts by mimicking the process of ?dabbing? inside a ventilated 20-m³ laboratory chamber. Surrogate mixtures of compounds most commonly found in cannabis were prepared and vaporized on a heated surface with controlled temperature. Particle size distribution and number concentrations of the fresh aerosols were monitored with a Fast Mobility Particle Sizer (FMPS). Volatile carbonyls were collected with dinitrophenylhydrazone (DNPH)-impregnated cartridges and analyzed by liquid chromatography, while volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were sampled and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with thermal desorption. During the simulated dabbing large numbers of ultrafine particles were generated, as well as aldehydes and other VOCs (e.g. acrolein, methacrolein). These products are well-known irritants to the respiratory system. Therefore, heating of ingredients in cannabis extracts, and other products used as additives, may result in the formation of harmful degradation byproducts.