ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews prevention of the formation of nitrosamines and N-nitroso compounds. Man may be exposed to a hazard of carcinogenic nitrosamines and N-nitroso compounds on two accounts: one by ingesting the compounds preformed in food and the other by synthesizing the compounds in the stomach from nitrite and N-nitrosatable compounds. Nitrosamines are produced from nitrite and secondary amines under mildly acidic conditions at pH 1.5 to 5. The use of pH-controlled aqueous systems containing acetonitrile and dioxane accelerated the formation of the nitrosamines by increasing the concentration of nitrous acid. Formation of the nitrosamines in an aqueous buffer was accelerated or inhibited by addition of acetone and ethanol depending upon the pH conditions. Formation of the nitrosamines in an aqueous buffer was accelerated or inhibited by addition of acetone and ethanol depending upon the pH conditions. Sorbic acid inhibits the nitrosamine formation but produces other mutagens.
