Abstract
The paper describes a method for the determination of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and -furans both in gas phase and in particulate matter of cigarette smoke. This method was used for analysing the concentrations of all relevant polychlorinated dibenzofurans in the smoke of the ten best-selling German cigarette brands. The distribution of the various tetra-octachlordibenzodioxin isomers was similar to that obtained after combustion. None of the cigarettes investigated was found to contain 2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzodioxin. The total values expressed as TCDD toxic equivalent values are low, ranging from 0.05 to 0.17 pg/cig. These results are compared with the data reported in the literature to date. Regarding uptake of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and -furans, cigarette smoke is only a source of minor importance as compared to nutrition.