Sampling tubes filled with gas chromatographic packings were excellent for concentrating organic pollutants from air. The collected pollutants were thermally desorbed into a gas chromatograph and quantitated using flame ionization or flame photometric detection. Advantages of the technique are ppb sensitivity and quantitative recovery, as well as superior sample stability and sampling convenience. The suitability of various sampling tube packings for collecting specific compounds was shown by determination of breakthrough volumes and recovery values.