Efficient sampling and determination of airborne N-nitrosamines by needle trap device coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

N-Nitrosamines are strong carcinogens and widely existing in nature and human environment. Airborne N-nitrosamines are found in tobacco, rubber factories and heavily polluted areas with atmospheric particulate matter. In this paper, needle trap device, an extraction trap device with sorbent inside the needle, coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, was applied as an efficient and solvent-free method for the sampling and the determination of four volatile N-nitrosamines (i.e., N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine, and N-nitrosodi-n-butylamine) in the atmosphere. The extraction and desorption conditions were selected within the study. Good linearity and recovery values were obtained in the range of 50-3000 ng L−1, and limits of detection of the method were within the range of 1.0-10.0 ng L−1. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied in sampling and analyzing volatile N-nitrosamines in a local smoking room, and the highest concentration of N-nitrosodimethylamine detected was 2954 ng L−1. We suppose that the results may be meaningful for those suffering from second-hand smoke.