How to Measure Nicotine in the Air

You can measure the levels of nicotine to further understand your indoor air quality

Indoor air quality is greatly reduced by smoking. Increased levels of cigarette smoke indoors raise the levels of nicotine and other pollutants. Passive inhalation, even by non-smokers, has been proven to increase the risk of smoking-related illness and allergies. Businesses that allow smoking inside the premises can measure the levels of nicotine to which their patrons are exposed. If you want to perform this type of measurement, you will will need the assistance of a professional with laboratory equipment.

Things You'll Need

• Gas chromatograph
• Electric air pump
• Petri dish
• Rubber tubing
• Thermoelectric cold plate
• Glass funnel
• Spectro-grade methanol
• Pipette
• 15 milliliter conical centrifuge tube

Instructions

1. Assemble the sampling apparatus by attaching a piece of rubber tubing to the outlet side of an air pump. The opposite end of the tubing attaches to the bottom end of a glass funnel, which is placed upside-down on top of a thermoelectric cold plate. The cold plate allows the nicotine in the air to become trapped under the funnel.

2. Place a petri dish underneath the glass funnel. This will become the sampling medium for the air particulates that you will eventually sample for nicotine.

3. Take air quality samples in three or four locations spread around the testing area. Turn on the air pump and leave the system on for approximately eight hours, or the length of a person's typical exposure time to the area.

4. Cover the petri dishes when finished to avoid exposing the samples to any other contaminates and bring the samples to a lab.

5. Dry the surface of the petri dish at a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius. Cover the sample with a piece of filter paper to avoid contamination.

6. Rinse the nicotine sample with one milliliter of spectro-grade methanol and load the entire sample into a 15 milliliter conical centrifuge tube using a pipette.

7. Insert the centrifuge tube sample into the gas chromatograph and have the sample analyzed by a trained professional, who will give you the results of the percentage of nicotine in the air.

References

• Measurement of Nicotine in Building Air As an Indicator of Tobacco Smoke Levels: Williams, D.C et al, Environ Health Perspect. 1985 May; 60: 405--410.