Quantification of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Cigarette Smoke Particulates by HPLC with Fluorescence Detection

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection was developed for the quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in cigarette mainstream and sidestream smoke particulates. Fifteen kinds of PAHs classified as priority pollutants by the US EPA were quantified with six perdeuterated PAHs as internal standards. The smoke filter samples obtained from 3 brands of cigarettes using standardized smoking conditions were extracted with dichloromethane, and then treated with tandem solid phase extraction cartridges (Silica and Neutral Alumina). The limits of detection ranged from 0.24 to 2.2 pg, and were more sensitive than those by GC-MS. The analytes were quantified by using the internal standards, and the developed method achieved sufficient reproducibility and accuracy. The PAH levels in mainstream and sidestream smoke from 3 cigarette brands were in the range of 0.2 - 305 ng cigarette(-1) and 26.4-6160 ng cigarette(-1), respectively. The total PAH content in sidestream smoke was more than 10 times higher compared with that of mainstream smoke. This method should be useful as an optional analytical method to quantify PAHs in cigarette smoke particulates.