[Possibility of using fish and amphibians for detecting the carcinogenic action of nitrosomorpholine and its chemical precursors].

When dissolved in water nitrosomorpholine induced in frogs Rana temporaria and aquarium fish adenomas and cancer, hemocytoblastosis, adenomatous polyps and adenocarcinomas of the intestine, mesenchymomas. A combined action of sodium nitrite and morpholine would induce the tumors concerned, but taken separately NN and M produced only a toxic effect. The morpholine nitration appears to proceed both endogenously and directly in water. It seems rational to use animals of the aqueous medium as an indicator of nitrosoamines and their precursors contamination of hydrosphere.