September 1990 |
Public Health Statement |
for |
n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine |
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This Public Health Statement is the
summary chapter from the Toxicological Profile for n-nitrosodi-n-propylamine.
It is one in a series of Public Health Statements about hazardous
substances and their health effects. A shorter version, the
ToxFAQs™, is also available.
This information is important because this substance may harm
you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend
on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits
and habits, and whether other chemicals are present. For more
information, call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737.
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1.1
What is n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine? |
n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine is a yellow
liquid at room temperature that does not dissolve in water
and evaporates slowly. It is a man-made chemical made in small
amounts for use in research. There is no evidence that n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
exists naturally in soil, air, food, or water. Small amounts
of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine are produced as a side reaction
during some manufacturing processes, as a contaminant in some
commonly available weed killers (dinitroaniline-based), and
during the manufacture of some rubber products. When exposed
to sunlight, n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine usually does not last
for more than a day. Without sunlight (e.g., in water deeper
than sunlight reaches or in subsurface soil) n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
breaks down slowly. It takes between 14 and 80 days for one-half
of any certain amount of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine to break
down when it is released to the subsurface soil.
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1.2
How might I be exposed to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine? |
Persons may be exposed to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
by eating foods treated with nitrite preservatives (e.g.,
cheeses, cured meats) and drinking certain alcoholic beverages.
n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine forms in the stomach
during digestion of nitrite-treated foods and foods that contain
certain amines, particularly di-n-propylamine. Amines occur
in some medicines and in a variety of foods. Levels of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
found in food and alcoholic beverages range between 0.03 parts
per billion (ppb) in fried, salt- preserved fish to
30 ppb in cheese. The general population may be exposed to
n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine in cigarette smoke.
Workers making molded rubber products
have been exposed to levels of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
in workroom air that were measured in parts of compound
per trillion parts (ppt) of air. Workers applying contaminated
weed killers may also be exposed to extremely low (ppt) levels
of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine. At this time,
n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine has been found in
at least 1 of 1177 hazardous waste sites on the National
Priorities List (NPL) in the United States. Workers and the
general population at these sites could possibly be exposed
to this compound by skin contact, breathing, and eating contaminated
items.
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1.3
How can n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine enter and leave
my body? |
n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
can enter the body when a person breathes air that contains
n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine, or eats food or drinks
water contaminated with n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine.
n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
is not likely to get into your body unless you eat certain
foods, drink alcoholic beverages, or are exposed to it at
a waste disposal site by breathing n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
vapors. It is likely that n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
can enter the body by direct skin contact with wastes, pesticides,
or soil that contains it. Experiments with animals suggest
that if n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine enters the
body, it will be broken down into other compounds and will
leave the body in the urine.
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1.4
How can n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine affect my health? |
The effects of short- or long-term exposures
to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine on human health have not been
studied. Little is known about the health effects of short
exposures to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine in experimental animals
except that eating or drinking certain amounts of this chemical
can cause liver disease and death. Long-term exposure of experimental
animals to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine in food or drinking water
causes cancer of the liver, esophagus, and nasal cavities.
Although human studies are not available, the animal evidence
indicates that it is reasonable to expect that exposure to
n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine by eating or drinking could cause
liver disease and cancer in humans. It is not known whether
other effects, such as birth defects, occur in animals or
could occur in humans exposed to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
by eating or drinking. It is also not known whether exposure
to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine by breathing contaminated air
or contact with the skin can affect the health of animals
or humans. Liver disease and cancer due to exposure to
n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine by breathing or skin contact are,
however, a possibility and a health concern.
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1.5
Is there a medical test to determine whether I have been exposed
to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine? |
The presence of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
in blood and urine can be measured by chemical analysis, but
this analysis is not usually available at your doctor's office
and has not been used to test for human exposure or to predict
possible health effects.
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1.6
What levels of exposure have resulted in harmful health effects? |
As discussed above, no information is
available on the health effects of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
in people. In animals, liver injury and death have been seen
from short-term exposure to levels of 308 parts of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
per million parts of food (ppm) and above.
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1.7
What recommendations has the federal government made to protect
human health? |
The EPA controls the release of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine.
It is proposed that releases or spills of 10 pounds or more
of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine must be reported
to the National Response Center.
The federal recommendations have been
updated as of July 1999.
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1.8 Where can I get more information? |
If you have any more questions or concerns, please contact
your community or state health or environmental quality department or:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Information line and technical assistance:
Phone: 888-422-8737
FAX: (770)-488-4178
ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health
clinics. These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses
resulting from exposure to hazardous substances.
To order toxicological profiles, contact:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Phone: 800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000
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References |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1989. Toxicological
profile for n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine. Atlanta,
GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health
Service.
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