Model risk analysis of nitrosatable compounds in the diet as precursors of potential endogenous carcinogens.

ABSTRACT

The potential health risk posed by the endogenous formation of N-nitroso compounds (NOC) from nitrosation of dietary ureas, guanidines, amides, amino acids and amines (primary, secondary and aromatic) was estimated according to the model Risk = [daily intake of precursor] X [gastric concentration of nitrite]n X [nitrosatability rate constant] X [carcinogenicity of derivative]. The daily intakes of these compound classes span five orders of magnitude (100 g/day amides, top; 1-10 mg/day secondary amines, ureas, bottom); the nitrosation rate constants span seven orders of magnitude (aryl amines, ureas, top; amides, secondary amines, bottom); and the carcinogenicity estimates span a 10,000-fold range from 'very strong' to 'virtually noncarcinogenic'. The resulting risk estimates likewise span an enormous range (nine orders of magnitude) dietary ureas and aromatic amines combined with high nitrite concentration could pose as great a risk as the intake of preformed N-nitrosodimethylamine in the diet. In contrast, the risk posed by the in-vivo nitrosation of primary and secondary amines is probably negligible. The risk contributed by amides (including protein), guanidines and primary amino acids is intermediate between these two extremes.