Formation of nitrite from ingested nitrate can result in several adverse health effects and implies a genotoxic risk as a consequence of endogenous formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds. We studied the formation of volatile N-nitrosamines after intake of nitrate at the acceptable daily intake (ADI) level in combination with a fish meal rich in amines as nitrosatable precursors. Twenty-f...

The metabolism of several N-nitrosamines (N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosoethylmethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosobenzylmethylamine, and N-nitrosopyrrolidine) in cultured human and rat esophagus has been investigated by measuring (a) CO2, (b) metabolites with an oxo group, and (c) metabolites bound to DNA. Both acyclic and cyclic N-nitrosamines were metabolized by rat esophagus. The ...

It is now about three decades since the hepatocarcinogenic effect of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)* was demonstrated in rats (1) and the suggestion was made that N-nitrosamines can be formed following nitrosation of various amines (2). Direct proof that such nitrosation reactions can occur was provided by Ender et al. (3) who identified NDMA in nitrite preserved fish-meal, and by Sander and Sei...