Intercept-Reactant Method for the Determination of Aromatic Amines in Mainstream Tobacco Smoke

Abstract

A method for the determination of aromatic amines in mainstream smoke of mechanically smoked cigarettes has been developed. The fast reaction of aromatic amines with other smoke constituents formed during the combustion process can be significantly reduced by the addition of an excess of p-toluidine to the acidic collecting solution. From this point the p-toluidine as intercept reactant immediately stabilizes the originally formed amines and results in high recovery rates.

By this method, 21 ng of 2-aminonaphthalene instead of 1 to 3 ng and about 3,6 ng of 4-aminobiphenyl instead of 0,2 to 0,3 ng have been detected in the mainstream smoke of a common blend filter cigarette. As expected, contents were higher in cigarettes manufactured from alkaline tobacco.

Key Words:

• intercept-reactant method
• aromatic amines
• tobacco smoke