Research report

Abstract

The use of new reagent for the detection of traces of selenium in cigarette smoke is described. The method depends upon the reduction of selenium present in the smoke into the red elemental selenium in a hydrochloric acid medium. This is extracted in isoamyl alcohol to give a red coloured suspension indicative of selenium. The method can be used to detect up to 1 μg/ml of selenium in a 5 ml sample. The method is fast and free from interference by substances present in cigarette smoke.