[A micromethod for determination of nicotine and cotinine in blood and urine by gas chromatography. Results obtained from various smokers].

The determination of nicotine and cotinine in plasma and urines of smokers is carried out by gas-chromatography with an Ucon-Polar 50 HB 2000 alkalinized column and a specific N detector, using diphenylamine as internal standard. The technique for extraction and chromatographic analysis is developed. The limit values for a correct determination are : 0,2 ng for nicotine and 1 ng for cotinine. The results show that the transit of nicotine and cotinine into the blood is very fast. They confirm the rapidity of the urinary excretion of nicotine, the slowness of that of cotinine, and the relation between the eliminated amounts and the urinary flow.