A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method was validated for the determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the FDA list of 93 harmful or potentially harmful constituents of mainstream cigarette smoke (MCS). | Optimized method for determination of 16 FDA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs in mainstream cigarette smoke by gas chromatography mass spectrometry