Nitrosamines have become an increasingly prominent concern as they are highly potent genotoxic impurities which may inadvertently be formed during the manufacture and processing of various consumer goods. The recent detection of nitrosamines in, and recall of, some pharmaceutical products has further increased concern over the presence of these compounds.
Additionally, environmental contamination through the release of nitrosamines, along with their formation during treatment processes (e.g., water treatment), are also areas of concern. Nitrosamines are a class of organic compound containing a nitroso group bonded to an amine (Figure 1) and are typically formed by reaction of a nitrosating agent, such as nitrite, with various amines. Due to many nitrosamines being classified as probable human carcinogens, it is essential to establish and quantify their presence in a broad range of products and sample matrices. This technical note details several chromatographic solutions that can be applied to the determination of nitrosamines.
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