DECREASED CONCENTRATIONS OF N-NITROSODIETHANOLAMINE AND N-NITROSOMORPHOLINE IN COMMERCIAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS

In 1981, the carcinogens N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) and N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) occurred in U.S. tobacco products in concentrations up to 6800 and 700 ppb, respectively. Since then, use of the sucker-growth inhibitor maleic hydrazide-diethanolamine, the precursor for NDELA, has been gradually reduced and morpholine, the precursor for NMOR, has been eliminated from the manufacture of smokeless tobacco. Consequently, a gradual reduction of NDELA in tobacco products to less than 100 ppb and NMOR to less than 40 ppb has been observed. The effectiveness of these measures demonstrates that practical steps can be taken toward the reduction of carcinogenic N-nitrosamines in tobacco products.