MEAN DAILY INTAKE OF VOLATILE N-NITROSAMINES FROM FOODS AND BEVERAGES IN WEST-GERMANY IN 1989-1990

The levels of volatile N-nitrosamines were determined in 38 alcoholic drinks and 215 food samples prepared for human consumption using standard culinary practices. The analyses used gas chromatography-thermal energy analysis. Detectable levels were found in 80 (31.5%) of the individual samples. The average daily intake of voltaile N-nitrosamines in West Germany in 1989-1990 was found to be: 0.28-mu-g N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)/day, 0.011-mu-g N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR)/day and 0.015-mu-g N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP)/day for men, and 0.17-mu-g NDMA/day, 0.011-mu-g NPYR/day and 0.015-mu-g/NPIP/day for women. For men, 31% of the daily NDMA exposure results from the consumption of beer.