Apparent mutagenicity of N-nitrosothiazolidine caused by a trace contaminant

The identification of N-nitrosothiazolidine (NTHZ) in smoked meat products prompted us to evaluate this compound for mutagenicity by the Salmonella assay. NTHZ was prepared in 99 + % purity by the nitrosation of the cysteamine-formaldehyde reaction mixture without isolation and purification of the resulting amine, and from thiazolidine, directly. Mutagenic activity was observed with TA100 without metabolic activation in the former, but not the latter preparation. An examination of the precursors, reaction intermediates, and HPLC separation of the NTHZ from the mutagenic product demonstrated that the genotoxic activity resulted from a synthesis-produced trace contaminant.