Survey for n-nitroso compounds at Armstrong Rubber Company, West Haven, Connecticut, September 20, 1978

The passenger- and truck-tire manufacturing facility of Armstrong Rubber Company at West Haven, Connecticut was surveyed for N-nitroso compounds. The authors note that many of these compounds are animal carcinogens and are suspected to be human carcinogens. Area air samples were obtained from as close to defined processes as possible to determine the source of worker exposure to N-nitroso compounds with regard to airborne volatile nitrosamines. On September 20, 1978, 20 air samples were collected by solid-sorbent 1-normal potassium-hydroxide (1N KOH) solution, Tenax gas chromatography solid sorbents, Thermosorb tubes, and a high-volume air pump. All of the samples contained N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). The NMOR concentrations ranged from 0.10 micrograms per cubic meter (micrograms/cu m) to 4 micrograms/cu m for area samples and from 0.4 to 9.2 micrograms/cu m in close proximity to specific processes. NDMA levels were 2 micrograms/cu m in four of the process air samples. NMOR and NDMA concentrations were 1.5 and 0.6 micrograms/cu m, respectively, for an air sample taken from inside a hot tire.