Fast determination of nicotine and 3-ethenylpyridine in indoor environments

Summary Different sampling and analysis techniques for the determination of gas-phase nicotine and 3-ethenylpyridine in environmental tobacco smoke are reported. Graphitized carbon traps, annular diffusion denuders, and nebulizer collectors have been used as sampling devices in combination with either thermal desorption or with water extraction. Capillary gas chromatography and ion-pair reversed-phase chromatography were applied to desorbed and liquid samples obtained in an intercomparison indoor study. The methods developed here show some advantages over existing methods in terms of analysis time, sensitivity and loading capacity.