Passive monitoring method for 3-ethenylpyridine: A marker for environmental tobacco smoke

new method was developed to assess environmental tobacco smoke in air. The method is based on passive sampling and subsequent measurement of the conce ntration of 3-ethenylpyridine, a vapor-phase compound specific to tobacco s moke. Air samples were collected using a 3M organic vapor monitor. Tests we re carried out in a dynamic chamber to determine the sampling rate (25.7 cm (3)/min). 3-Ethenylpyridine was desorbed from the sampler with 1 mt of pyri dine/toluene mixture. 3-Ethenylpyridine was quantified by gas chromatograph y/mass spectrometry. The limit of detection was 0.01 mug/sample, correspond ing to a concentration of 0.27 mug/m(3) air calculated for a sampling perio d of 24 h. Field measurements were carried out to test the performance of t he method. Mean concentrations ranging from 1.3 to 5.3 mug/m(3) were measur ed for 3-ethenylpyridine in smoking environments, but no 3-ethenylpyridine was detected in nonsmoking environments. Active sampling using charcoal tub es was used as a reference method in the chamber tests and field measuremen ts, individual exposures can be easily and accurately measured by means of the passive sampler. Because of simple sample treatment, the method is also well-suited for large-scale monitoring of environmental tobacco smoke.