Where It Comes From
Forms when nitrites react with amines; found in cured meats, some beers/spirits, and tobacco smoke; can form during water disinfection (chloramination) and in certain industries (rubber, leather, pesticides) [1][2].
How You Are Exposed
Breathing tobacco smoke, eating certain processed meats or beer, drinking contaminated water, or working where nitrosamines are made or used [1].
Why It Matters
Classified as probably carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 2A) and listed by NTP as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen; causes liver tumors in animals [2][3].
Who Is at Risk
People who smoke or are around secondhand smoke; workers in rubber/leather/pesticide or chemical manufacturing; people on water systems that use chloramine disinfectant; frequent consumers of cured meats [1][2].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Don’t smoke; limit cured/processed meats and some beers/spirits; read your water report and ask your utility about nitrosamines; consider alternative water or a home filter with demonstrated reduction; follow workplace controls and PPE [1][2].
References
- [1]U.S. EPA. Technical Fact Sheet – Nitrosamines (EPA 505-F-11-005), 2013. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-03/documents/ffrrofactsheet_contaminant_nitrosamines_january2014_final_0.pdf
- [2]IARC. Some N‑Nitrosamines. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Vol. 17, 1978 (and subsequent evaluations). https://publications.iarc.fr/Book-And-Report-Series/Iarc-Monographs-On-The-Identification-Of-Carcinogenic-Hazards-To-Humans/Some-N-nitrosamines-1978
- [3]NTP. Report on Carcinogens, 15th Edition (2021). N‑Nitrosodiethylamine. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/assessments/roc/listings/n-nitrosodiethylamine