Collection and preparation of sidestream cigarette smoke for trace elemental determinations by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Abstract

A novel method for the collection and preparation of sidestream cigarette smoke condensate is described for trace elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The smoke collection method utilizes a specially designed chimney that collects and directs the sidestream smoke (SS) to a 2-stage trapping system consisting of an impaction trap followed by a 0.8 μm mixed cellulose ester filter. The samples are digested with nitric acid in a commercial heating block before analysis. The method limits of detection (LODs) are 1, 0.2, 2, 9, 6, and 7 ng/cigt for As, Cd, Pb, Ni, Se, and Cr, respectively. The SS collected from an industry reference cigarette, 1R4F, produced by the University of Kentucky was analyzed. The concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb in 1R4F were determined to be 27.3 ± 2.1, 412 ± 14, and 43.8 ± 2.0 ng/cigt, respectively, while the concentrations of Ni, Cr, and Se are below the method LOD. Consequently, this novel method successfully addresses contamination, instrumentation, and collection issues for performing trace elemental analysis of sidestream cigarette smoke condensate.