The occurrence of preformed N-nitroso compounds in food samples from a high risk area of esophageal cancer in Kashmir, India.

Several commonly used raw foodstuffs from a high risk esophageal cancer region in Kashmir (India) were analysed for the presence of N-nitroso compounds. The food items were selected on the basis of their frequent consumption with particular emphasis on the preserved foods (dried, pickled and smoked) and those which are unique to the region. Nine out of 11 food items were found to contain low concentrations of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), N-nitrososarcosine (NSAR), N-nitrosoproline (NPRO) and N-nitrosothaizolidine-4-carboxylic acid (NTCA). The preliminary survey shows a widespread contamination of N-nitroso compounds in raw foodstuffs from Kashmir.