ASTM International

Standard Test Method for Nicotine and 3-Ethenylpyridine in Indoor Air
 N D5075

Annotation

This test method covers the sampling/analysis of nicotine and 3-ethenylpyridine (3-EP) in indoor air. This test method is based upon the collection of nicotine and 3-EP by adsorption on a sorbent resin, extraction of nicotine and 3-EP from the sorbent resin, and determination by gas chromatography (GC) with nitrogen selective detection. (1)2

The active samplers consist of an macroreticular polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymer (for example, XAD-4) sorbent tube attached to a sampling pump. Macroreticular polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymer is referred to “sorbent resin” throughout this method. This test method is applicable to personal or area sampling.

This test method is limited in sample duration by the capacity of the sorbent tube for nicotine (about 300 ?g). This test method has been evaluated up to 24-h sample duration; however, samples are typically acquired for at least 1 h (sometimes only 1 h). (2)

For this test method, limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) for nicotine at a sampling rate of 1.5 L/min are, respectively, 0.11 ?g/m3 and 0.37 ?g/m3 for 1-h sample duration and 0.01 ?g/m3 and 0.05 ?g/m3 for 8-h sample duration. The LOD and LOQ for 3-EP at a sampling rate of 1.5 L/min are, respectively, 0.06 ?g/m3 and 0.19 ?g/m3 for 1-h sample duration and 0.01 ?g/m3 and 0.02 ?g/m3 for 8-h sample duration (2). Both LOD and LOQ can be reduced by increasing the sensitivity of the thermionic specific detector.

Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary information is given in 13.6.