AbstractTrace atmospheric gases have been sampled using potassium‐iodide‐based reactant traps for ozone removal. GC‐MS analysis revealed the presence of organic iodine compounds which were present neither in the atmosphere nor as contaminants of the materials used, but more likely arose from reactions of organic gases or aerosols sampled with reactive iodine or hypoiodite released from reaction of ozone with potassium iodide in the traps. Losses of the individual organic trace gases measured were not, however, observed as a result of this mechanism. Several cautions in identifying unknown compounds from the atmosphere when using potassium iodide ozone traps are disc