Interference of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-containing inhalers with measurements of volatile compounds using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT‐MS) is a sensitive technique capable of measuring volatile compounds (VCs) in complex gas mixtures in real time; it is now being applied to breath analysis. We investigated the effect of inhalers containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) on the detection and measurement of haloamines in human breath. SIFT‐MS mass scans (MS) and selected ion monitoring (SIM) scans were performed on three healthy non‐smoking volunteers before and after inhalation of the following medications: Combivent™ metered‐dose inhaler (MDI) (CFC‐containing); Ventolin™ MDI (CFC‐free); Atrovent™ MDI (CFC‐free), Beclazone™ MDI (CFC‐containing); Duolin™ nebuliser. In addition, the duration of the persistence of the mass/charge ratios was measured for 20 h. Inhalers containing CFCs generated large peaks at m/z 85, 87, 101, 103 and 105 in vitro and in vivo, consistent with the predicted product ions of CFCs 12, 114 and 11. No such peaks were seen with Duolin™ via nebuliser, or CFC‐free MDIs. We conclude that measurement of VCs, such as haloamines, with product ions of similar m/z values to the ions found for CFCs would be significantly affected by the presence of CFCs in inhalers. This issue needs to be accounted for prior to the measurement of VCs in breath in people using inhalers containing CFCs. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.