# cigarette smoke detector

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-smoke-detector/184041>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 24, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-smoke-detector/184041 "2003-06-24T15:02:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Susma\_Rio\_Sep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@Susma\_Rio\_Sep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susma_Rio_Sep)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-smoke-detector/184041/1 "2003-06-24T15:02:02Z")

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Does anyone have any idea of any process or device for detecting the presence of cigarette smoke, to prove to the unconvinced that someone smoked earlier.

I work in a building where it is officially prohibited to smoke. But there is always someone smoking somewhere. Now, the building supervisor does not believe that I smell cigarette smoke, and other tenants also. But not the supervisor. He seems to be keen on not taking more trouble than he wants to spare.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Susma Rio Sep

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-smoke-detector/184041/2 "2003-06-24T15:21:49Z")

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I know of no test or detector that can definitively identify the presence of cigarette smoke. I’d suggest you circulate a letter amongst the tenants and have them all sign to the effect that they, too have been smelling smoke and request action.

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**Author:** ![DiLLiGaF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/45deac/32.png) [@DiLLiGaF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiLLiGaF)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-smoke-detector/184041/3 "2003-06-24T15:42:16Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \*  
> \*\*I know of no test or detector that can definitively identify the presence of cigarette smoke. I’d suggest you circulate a letter amongst the tenants and have them all sign to the effect that they, too have been smelling smoke and request action. \*\*

But then the supervisor would have to take his smoking habit elsewhere! 😃