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N-NITROSODIETHYLAMINE
CAS No: 55-18-5
I. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES (From HSDB, 1995)
Molecular weight 102.1
Boiling point
175-177° C
Melting point
Not found
Vapor pressure
0.86 mm Hg @ 20° C
Air concentration conversion 1 ppm = 4.2 mg/m 3 @ 25° C
II.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT VALUES
Unit Risk Factor: 1.0 E-2 (µg/m 3 ) -1
Slope Factor: 3.6 E+1 (mg/kg-day) -1
[Calculated from a cancer potency factor derived by CDHS (1988)]
III.
CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS
Human Studies
There is no direct evidence that links nitrosamines, including N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), to human
cancer. The US EPA (1980) concluded that the epidemiological studies to date were inadequate to
establish a valid causal relationship between nitrosamine exposure and human cancer. The US EPA
(1980) also concluded that it was highly improbable that humans are refractory to the carcinogenic
effects of nitrosamines considering the number of animal species that show increased tumor incidence
following nitrosamine exposure.
Animal Studies
A number of qualitative studies were conducted in a range of species, including rats, mice, hamsters,
guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, and monkeys (Yamamoto et al., 1972; Druckrey et al., 1967; Magee et al.,
1976; Rajewski et al., 1966; Tomatis, 1973). In addition to these studies, a number of later studies
show evidence of quantitative dose-response relationships.
Drinking water containing a range of concentrations from 0.033 to 16.896 ppm NDEA was
administered to male and female Colworth rats (60/sex/group) for their natural lifespan (Peto et al.,
1982; 1984). The control groups consisted of 240 rats/sex. Nearly all animals exposed to the high
dose of NDEA died from tumors of the liver or esophagus (Table 1). Other sites showing an increase
in tumors included the lower jaw, stomach, kidney, ovaries, seminal vesicles, and nasopharynx.
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