The Smoke Analysis (SA) Sub-Group was formed by merging the Routine Analytical Chemistry (RAC) and the Smoke Analytes (SMA) Sub-Groups in 2020 to consolidate workstreams, optimise the use of resources, and strengthen communication and decision-making. The SA Sub-Group's objectives, as listed above, were also approved by the Scientific Commission and the Board in 2020.

In February 2024, the Smoke Analysis Sub-Group was moved from the Smoke Science to the Product Technology Study Group to be more consistent with the work being done by the group.

The SA Sub-Group has the following workstreams to achieve its objectives:

• Workstream “Cigarette Smoke Methods”
• Workstream “Cigar Smoke HPHC Methods”
• Workstream “Reference Products”

CORESTA Recommended Methods (CRMs)

The SA Sub-Group is now developing a CORESTA Recommended Method for some analytes in smoke of cigars (except Nicotine Free Dry Particulate Matter (NFDPM), Nicotine and Carbon Monoxide (CO)) and cigarettes.

CRMs developed by the SA Sub-Group

• CRM 95: Determination of Aromatic Amines in Mainstream Cigarette Smoke by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry with Negative Chemical Ionisation (GC/MS(NCI))
• CRM 97: Determination of Menthol in Mainstream Cigarette Smoke with an Intense Smoking Regime by Gas Chromatography
• CRM 104: Determination of Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) in Mainstream Cigarette Smoke by Chemiluminescence
• CRM 106: Determination of Hydrogen Cyanide in Mainstream Cigarette Smoke by Continuous Flow Analyzer

This Sub-Group is responsible for maintaining a number of CRMs developed not only by this Sub-Group but also by the SMA and RAC Sub-Groups for smoke analytes.

For more information, please see the SMA Sub-Group or RAC Sub-Group sections.

CORESTA Monitor Test Pieces

The SA Sub-Group also has the responsibility for organizing the manufacture of and to maintain CORESTA Monitors for Tar, Nicotine and CO (TNCO) and Ignition Propensity (IP).

Current CORESTA Monitor Test Pieces

• For TNCO: CORESTA Monitor Test Piece No. 9 (CM 9) developed in 2018
• For IP testing: CORESTA Monitor Test Piece IP No. 2 (CM IP 2) developed in 2014

For more information, please see the RAC Sub-Group section.

The collaborative study on evaluating the CORESTA Monitor Test Pieces for TNCO in smoke is conducted annually. Furthermore, the collaborative study on evaluating the CORESTA Monitor Test Pieces for Ignition Propensity was conducted in 2021 and a guide on CORESTA ignition propensity monitor test piece production and evaluation requirements published in 2024.

Participation in these collaborative studies has helped Sub-Group participants with their ISO 17025 accreditation and allowed those laboratories whose results deviate significantly from others to improve their methodological processes. This has been shown by the improvement of reproducibility over time.

Technical Reports

For the development of CRMs, the SA Sub-Group conducts international collaborative studies to come to a consensus method and to assess the variability and possible limitations of the method.

For the evaluation of the CORESTA Monitor Test Pieces, the SA Sub-Group conducts international collaborative studies as shown above. The results are statistically evaluated and summarized in Technical Reports.

In addition to determining the variability of the method and CORESTA monitor Test Pieces, these reports also allow the participants to assess their own performance compared to other laboratories and to prove competency for accreditation purposes.

These reports are made publicly available on the CORESTA website.

Updated February 2024