Exposure Assessment of N-nitrosamines in Foods

In this study, contamination levels of 7 N-nitrosamine were investigated in processed meat products (n=51), processed fish products (n=62), salted fish pickles (n=20), and beer and malt beverages (n=21) using a GC/PCI-MS/MS method. The limits of detection (LOD) of the N-nitrosamines ranged from 0.2 to 0.5 µg/kg. In addition, methods were used to estimate the recovery of 7 N-nitrosamines, which ranged from 84 to 112%. N-nitrosamines were detected in 89 (58%) out of 154 samples. The exposure of an entire population group to N-nitrosamines through food intake was estimated using the average body weight of the total population and average daily food consumption, to perform risk assessment based on reports of a national health and nutrition survey. The results indicated that the daily intake of N-nitrosamines over a life time was 4.92×10 mg/kg b.w./day. The margin of exposure (MOE) for the general population, estimated using the benchmark dose lower confidence limit 10 (BMDL ) of N-nitrosodimethylamine, was 208,939, which was found to be safe.