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Synthesis and Stability of Dimethylnitrosamine in Cattle Manure¹

ABSTRACT

Beef cattle feedlots are a source of large quantities of organic and inorganic nitrogen compounds, among which are the precursors for the synthesis of N-nitrosamines, compounds carcinogenic to laboratory test animals and, possibly, to man.

Our objectives in this study were: (i) to determine if N-dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA) and N-diethylnitrosamine (DENA) could be detected in cattle feedlot manure packs; (ii) to identify and quantify nitrosamine precursors; (iii) to determine whether DMNA could be synthesized from dimethylamine (DMA) and nitrite (NO₂^–) added to manure; and (iv) to determine the stability of DMNA in manures under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Although the precursors necessary are present in manures, no DMNA or DENA was found at minimum detection limits of 0.02 ppm in manure. Aerobic incubation of manure with DMA-N (500 ppm) plus NO₂^–-N (1,000 ppm) generates detectable DMNA, but DMNA was not detected in samples incubated anaerobically or with lower levels of precursors. DMNA added to manure was relatively stable under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Key Words: amine • carcinogen • nitrosamine • DMA • NO₂^–

¹ Contribution of ARS, USDA, Western Region, Ft. Collins, CO 80522, in cooperation with Colorado State Univ. Exp. Stn., Sci. J. Ser. No. 2117.

² Research Chemist, USDA, and Research Technician, Colorado State Univ., respectively.

Received for publication February 13, 1976.