Urinary excretion of N-nitrosodiethanolamine in rats following its epicutaneous and intratracheal administration and its formation in vivo following skin application of diethanolamine

Abstract Urinary excretion of unchanged N -nitrosodiethanolamine (NDElA) following its epicutaneous and intratracheal administration was determined. Excretion rate was between 73–89% of the given dose, which was between 24 and 184 mg/animal. Formation in vivo of NDElA was demonstrated by NDElA exretion in urine in nitrite-fed rats after skin treatment with the parent amine diethanolamine (DElA). The data suggest the possibility of biological monitoring of human NDElA exposure by analysing its urinary excretion.