Quinoline and methylquinolines in cigarette smoke: comparative data and the effect of filtration.

A method has been developed to determine quantitatively quinoline, isoquinoline, and each of the methylquinoline isomers in cigarette smoke. This method was applied to the smoke of several different commercial cigarettes with and without filter tips. Quantitative analyses were accomplished by capillary gas chromatography, using a 50-m OV-101 fused silica capillary column and a 50-m Dexsil 300 fused silica column. Quinoline, isoquinoline and all seven of the methylquinolines were found in cigarette smoke. When cigarettes were analyzed with and without filter tips, these compounds were reduced by filtration, but not as much as tar was reduced. The significance of these data is discussed in view of the biological activity of specific isomers of these environmental pollutants.