Occurrence of volatile N-nitrosamines in animal diets

46 samples of commercially available diets for experimental animals have been analysed for their content of volatile N-nitrosamines by use of a nitrosamine-specific detection method (TEA-detector). 80% of all analysed samples were positive for N-nitrosodimethylamine with a maximum content of 79 ppb (microgram/kg) found in one sample. 59% of the samples were positive for N-nitrosopyrrolidine with 26 ppb as highest content. In 3 samples trace quantities (less than 1 ppb) of N-nitrosodiethylamine were found, one sample contained N-nitrosopiperidine (4 ppb).