Volatile nitrosamine levels in rubber teats and pacifiers available in New Zealand

Samples of rubber baby bottle teats and pacifiers available in New Zealand were analyzed for nitrosamines by HPLC-TEA. These products, which were manufactured in the USA, Singapore, West Germany, England, and Japan contained one to three nitrosamines. All but one product, which was made of synthetic polyisoprene rubber complied with the US Food and Drug Administration regulatory limit of 60 ng/g. The mean level of total nitrosamines in 11 of the 12 products was 34 ng/g with a range from 9-63 ng/g. The twelfth product recorded a level of 190 ng/g total nitrosamines.