Analysis of heterocyclic amines in mainstream cigarette smoke using a new NCI GC-MS technique

A new procedure for the analysis of heterocyclic amines (HAs) in cigarette mainstream smoke condensate was developed. The procedure is based on two step derivatization with heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA) and N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal, followed by GC-MS analysis using negative chemical ionization (NCI) and single ion monitoring (SIM) detection. Using this procedure 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhiP) and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) can be analyzed at levels as low as 0.5 ng/cig. Besides IQ and PhiP, the presence of six other HAs in particulate phase smoke was investigated. The technique is not sensitive enough for the analysis of 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (A alphaC), 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (MeA alphaC) and 3-amino-1, 4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1). The levels of 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole(Trp-P-2), 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-alpha :3'2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1) and 2-aminodipyrido[1,2-alpha :3'2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-2) were below the estimated detection Limit of the procedure.