Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to cigarette smoke is well known. It is also known that PAHs are not inherent components of tobacco. Their presence in cigarette smoke results from the curing process of tobacco leaves used for the fabrication of cigarettes and the incomplete combustion of tobacco during the smoking process. The two chromatographic versions of EPA method 610 are popular approaches for the analysis of PAHs in a wide variety of samples. This method, which is based either on high-performance liquid-chromatography (HPLC) or gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) has shown the presence of Benzo[a]pyrene in tobacco samples and cigarette smoke. Benzo[a]pyrene is the most toxic PAH in the U.S Environmental Protection Agency priority pollutant list.
Herein, we apply the HPLC Method 610 to the analysis of ten PAHs of MM 302 Da. In the presence of the 15 EPA-PAHs, co-elution was observed between Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene/Naphtho[2,3-k]fluoranthene and Benzo[a]pyrene/Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene. The extent of our literature search reveals no publications on the capabilities of Method 610 to measure Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene in tobacco samples and cigarette smoke. This PAH is approximately one hundred times more toxic than Benzo[a]pyrene. Our studies demonstrate the feasibility to directly determine the four co-eluting PAHs in chromatographic fractions without further separation. Their unambiguous determination is based on spectral and lifetime information with a two-step experimental procedure consisting of the evaporation of the chromatographic fraction followed by the dissolution of the residue with microliters of n-octane. Limits of detection at the parts-per-billion concentration level (ng.mL-1) were obtained from microliter sample volumes via Laser Excited Time Resolved Shpol’skii Spectroscopy1.
- A. Comas, A. Santana, A. D. Campiglia, On the co-elution of Banzo[a]pyrene and Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene in chromatographic fractions and their unambiguous determination in tobacco extracts via Laser-Excited Time Resolved Shpol’skii Spectroscopy. Anal. Methods, 2023, Accepted Manuscript, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2AY02064E.
Outline of Studies:
Major: Chemistry
Educational Career:
B.S., 2014, Florida International University
M.S., 2020, University of Central Florida
Committee in Charge:
Dr. Andres Campiglia (chair)
Dr. Erin Saitta
Dr. Dana-Marie Dennis
Dr. Gang Chen
Dr. Archana Dubey
Approved for distribution by Dr. Andres Campiglia, Committee Chair, on March 10, 2023.
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