Method for assessing the contribution of environmental tobacco smoke to respirable suspended particles in indoor environments

Abstract

The development of a method providing an upper limit for the ETS contribution to indoor concentrations of RSP is reported. This upper limit is termed ultraviolet particulate matter (UVPM). Air is drawn at 2 L min⁻¹ through an inertial impactor separating at 3.5 μm, the RSP is collected on a membrane filter, and analyzed gravimetrically. Filters and collected material are then extracted in methanol, and the absorbance of the extraqt is measured spectrophotometrically at 325 nm. UVPM mass is computed from a calibration curve based upon ETS particulate matter collected in an environmental chamber.