Table 1.
Sample descriptions and results for vaping cartridges and pods.
Fig 1.
Schematic of THC and nicotine devices and functional elements revealed via disassembly.
The EVALI patient cartridges are denoted with a (*). Note the fluorinated, polymer wire sheaths observed inside the Hermes, Unknown #2, and eGo-CE6 designs. Two minor variations were observed between brands in the left-most cartridge type: 1) the plug below the ceramic in one of the tested CCell cartridges was made of fiberglass, not a polymer. 2) the TKO tank walls were made of glass, not polymer.
Fig 2.
6.3-10x stereozoom microscope images of components from used CCell cartridge associated with EVALI case.
a) bottom of cartridge end cap showing battery contact. b) battery contact in white polymer gasket. c) air tube with fluid holes and filament wire protruding through rubbery end cap. d) filament wire leads, ceramic, and fibrous insulation partially exposed. See Fig 11D for composition of boxed region. e) ceramic material broken to liberate filament. f) black, burnt material inside oil-soaked ceramic, suggesting exposure to high temperatures.
Fig 3.
10x stereozoom microscope images of components from used TKO cartridge associated with EVALI case.
a) battery contact and white polymer gasket b) filament wire leads exposed when battery contact removed c) polymer plug at end of tube. d) filament wire leads embedded in cylindrical ceramic, itself wrapped in fibrous wicking/insulation. e) charred material suggesting high temperatures on fibrous insulation and downstream end of ceramic. f) inside of oil-soaked ceramic showing embedded filament coils and no burn marks where there is no oil.
Fig 4.
10-80x stereozoom microscope images of components from new CCell THC cartridge.
a) battery contact in clear, rubbery gasket, of a slightly different design than that shown for the CCell and TKO cartridges. b) wire leads to filament embedded in fibrous insulation plug a) fibrous plug detail, made of a different material than the CCell and TKO cartridge end plugs. b) broken apart ceramic and fibrous wicking/insulation showing oil-free white color, and burn marks that are less severe than on the used CCell and TKO ceramics. C) detail of porous ceramic. D) detail of insulation.
Fig 5.
10-20x stereozoom microscope images of components from new Hermes THC cartridge.
a) battery contact removed and metal end cap wall sawed off, showing filament embedded in ceramic, housed in a clear rubbery envelope inside a metal insert. b) heating element removed, showing rubbery envelope. c) ceramic chipped away to reveal square geometry of filament turns. d) filament removed from ceramic, showing brazed wire lead. e) battery contact with white, rubbery gasket. f) view towards heating element with battery contact removed, showing clear polymer sheath around one wire lead.
Fig 6.
6.3-40x stereozoom microscope images of components from new THC cartridge “unknown #1”.
a) upstream end of cartridge with battery contact b) battery contact and clear polymer gasket. c) downstream end of metal cartridge end cap showing fibrous wick inside filament, itself embedded in rubbery cap. d) same as (c) at higher magnification. e) side view of rubbery cap with brown substance and fibers where filament wire leads passed through. f) plastic tank walls and wick pieces.
Fig 7.
10x stereozoom microscope images of components from new THC cartridge “unknown #2”.
a) battery contact with rectangular rails, inside white polymer gasket. b) wire leads visible with battery contact removed. c) side view of air tube with two wick access holes, and filament housing slot showing two stacked filaments obscured by wick material, insulation, and oil residues. Broken tank glass is also visible. d) bottom view of bottom-most filament and wick. e) both filaments with wicks and one polymer sheath each. f) quilted fibrous insulation with slot cut out to expose filaments to oil.
Fig 8.
6.3-10x stereozoom microscope images of components from used JUUL pod.
a) side view of battery contact–filament -wick assembly inside clear plastic pod. b) top view of (a) showing battery contact tabs. c) bottom view of pod showing metal air tube. d) same view as (b) but removed from pod, showing darkened filament with oil-saturated wick. e) non-brazed connection between filament and battery contact. f) top view of filament and evaporated wick, showing partially burned surfaces.
Fig 9.
Images of components from new EGO-CE5 coil head.
a) camera image showing coil head with wick, next to unit containing empty tank, air tube, and battery contact. b)–f) 6.3-40x stereozoom microscope images: b) side view of threaded battery contact end. c) top view of (b). d) opposite view of coil head with air tube nozzle removed and slotted wick-filament holder visible. e) Clear polymer sheath wrapped around one filament-wire joint. f) End of wire lead that touches battery contact.
Fig 10.
a) EVALI patient CCell cartridge b) new THC cartridge Unknown #1. c) used JUUL pod d) new EGO-CE5 coil head. The tested battery contacts for (a) and (b) included the entire end caps, were integrated with the filament for (c), and comprised the entire bottom end of the coil head body for (d).
Fig 11.
SEM-EDS for CCell cartridge associated with EVALI case.
a) battery contact exhibiting Ni with Cu and Zn. Gasket exhibited Si with O and C. b) Polymer plug exhibiting Si with minor O and C. c) Ceramic exhibiting Si with minor O, Al, K, Na, and P. d) Filament with Fe, Cr, and Ni, and wire lead with Ni. A section of the wire lead near the battery contact (see Fig 2D) also had minor Fe, Cr, and Co. e) fibrous insulation with C, O, and striated profile.
Fig 12.
SEM-EDS for used TKO cartridge associated with EVALI case.
a) battery contact exhibiting Ni with Sn, Cu, and Zn. Gasket exhibited Si with Ca, Ti, O and C. b) Polymer plug exhibiting Si with minor O and C. c) Ceramic exhibiting Si with minor O, Al, K, Na, and P. d) Filament Fe, Cr, and Ni, joined to wire lead with Ni. e) fibrous insulation with C, O, minor Ti, and striated morphology.
Fig 13.
SEM-EDS for new CCell cartridge.
a) battery contact exhibiting Ni and gasket exhibiting Si, C, and O b) fibrous plug with Si, Al, and O. c) ceramic with Si and minor Al, Na, Fe, and K. d) filament with Ni and Cr joined to thicker wire lead with Ni. e) insulation fibers with striated morphology exhibiting C and O.
Fig 14.
SEM-EDS for new Hermes cartridge components.
a) battery contact with Ni and gasket with Si, C, Ca, and O. b) rubbery heating element envelope with Si and minor C and O. c) ceramic exhibiting Si with O, Na, P, and K. d) filament with Fe, Cr, and Ni and wire lead with Ni. e) wire sheath with primarily F and C and glass wall piece with Si and O.
Fig 15.
SEM-EDS for new THC cartridge “unknown #1”.
a) battery contact exhibiting Ni with Sn, Zn, and minor Co, and gasket exhibiting Si, Ca, C, and O. b) rubbery plug with Si, Ca, and O and glass fibers exhibiting Si and O. c) filament with Ni and Cr joined to thicker wire lead with Ni (acquisition from beyond image frame). d) wick fibers exhibiting Si with minor Al, Ca, and O.
Fig 16.
SEM-EDS for new THC cartridge designated “unknown #2”.
a) battery contact exhibiting Ni, Zn, Sn, and minor Co and Cu, and gasket exhibiting Si, Ca, S, Ti, Zn, C, and O. b) wick exhibiting Si with O and polymer sheath exhibiting C and F. c) filament with Ni and Cr joined to thicker wire lead exhibiting Ni. d) insulation fibers exhibiting Si with minor Al, Ca, and O.
Fig 17.
SEM-EDS for used JUUL components.
a) battery contact showing brighter, Au enriched surface layer with Ni and Fe. b) filament with Fe, Cr, and Ni. c) glass fibers from wick, exhibiting primarily Si with minor Al and O.
Fig 18.
SEM-EDS for new eGo-CE5 components.
a) Battery contact with Ni. b) Filament with Fe, Cr, and Ni, wire lead with Ni, and joint exhibiting Ni and Cr. c) sheath around filament-wire joint with primarily C and F. d) glass fibers from wick, exhibiting Si with minor O.
Fig 19.
2,500x SEM images of metal surface conditions in new and used wires.
a) used JUUL filament. b) new Cell wire lead. c) used CCell filament from EVALI patient d) used CCell wire lead. e) used TKO filament from EVALI patient. f) used TKO wire lead.
Fig 20.
FTIR micro-ATR spectra for polymer components of Hermes cartridge.
a) clear sheath from wire lead with library match to PTFE. b) battery contact gasket with matches to synthetic rubber and inorganic pigments (silica, calcium carbonate).