Chemical composition of environmental tobacco smoke. 1. Gas-phase acids and bases

The gas-phase components of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) generated in Teflon chambers were chemically characterized. Gas-phase acids and bases in ETS were determined using several different diffusion denuder samplers with the collected compounds being analyzed by ion or gas chromatography or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Nitric acid is the major inorganic acid present in the gas phase of ETS. Principal bases present are ammonia, nicotine, pyridine, 3-ethenylpyridine, and myosmine. The latter four plus nitric acid were identified as potential tracers of ETS.