Occupational nitrosamine exposure. 1. Rubber and tire industry

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Carcinogenesis (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/4.9.1147· OSTI ID:5430971

Spiegelhalder, B; Preussmann, R

To determine the role of N-nitrosamines in the known increased cancer risk of rubber workers, air concentrations of such carcinogens were measured by area sampling or personal monitoring in 19 factories. N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) were found regularly, the air concentrations varying between 0.1 and 380 micrograms/m/sup 3/ personal monitoring. The mean concentration was usually in the range of 1-10 micrograms/m/sup 3/. Several other nitrosamines could be detected in certain production branches. In retail shops and storage rooms of tires NDMA and NMOR were found. Most rubber chemicals based on amines are contaminated with N-nitrosamines, but this contamination cannot explain the air concentrations of nitrosamines found. The occurrence of nitrosamines mainly depends upon their formation during production of rubber and rubber products from used vulcanisation accelerators based on amines and the presence of nitrosating agents, such as diphenylnitrosamine (retarder A) and of nitrous gases, in products or production areas. Elimination of one or both precursors for nitrosamine formation resulted in significant reduction of aerial contamination of nitrosamines. The results are discussed in regard to the mechanisms of nitrosamine formation during rubber production, as basis for future epidemiological studies and their potential for exposure prevention.

• Research Organization: Institute of Toxicology and Chemotherapy, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, FRG
• OSTI ID: 5430971
• Journal Information: Carcinogenesis (N.Y.); (United States), Vol. 4:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
NITROSAMINES
AEROSOL MONITORING
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
RUBBER INDUSTRY
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
MORPHOLINES
NITROGEN OXIDES
TIRES
AIR POLLUTION
AMINES
CHALCOGENIDES
ETHERS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
MONITORING
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROSO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SAFETY
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)