Molecular effects of nitrosamine toxicity.

Nitrosamines are toxic chemical compounds found low in quantity, but widespread in the environment. This work investigated the kinetics of chemical reaction of activated nitrosamines with various organic substrates. The mechanism by which nitrosamines react demonstrates possible pathways in which the toxicity is expressed. Once activated nitrosamines are very reactive. Chemical compounds which can act as nucleophilic substrates may be alkylated by the activated nitrosamines. A broad category of chemical compounds are shown to be suitable substrates for nitrosamine induced alkylation. This large category of substrates suggests a substantial potential for toxic activity in vivo. By investigating the reaction kinetics of activated nitrosamines a greater understanding of their toxic effects may be possible.