Model risk analysis of nitrosatable compounds in the diet as precursors of potential endogenous carcinogens.

The potential health risk posed by the endogenous formation of N-nitroso compounds (NOC) from nitrosation of dietary ureas, guanidines, amides, amino acids and amines (primary, secondary and aromatic) was estimated according to the model: Risk = [daily intake of precursor] X [gastric concentration of nitrite]n X [nitrosatability rate constant] X [carcinogenicity of derivative]. The daily intakes of these compound classes span five orders of magnitude (100 g/day amides, top; 1-10 mg/day secondary amines, ureas, bottom); the nitrosation rate constants span seven orders of magnitude (aryl amines, ureas, top; amides, secondary amines, bottom); and the carcinogenicity estimates span a 10,000-fold range from 'very strong' to 'virtually noncarcinogenic'. The resulting risk estimates likewise span an enormous range (nine orders of magnitude): dietary ureas and aromatic amines combined with high nitrite concentration could pose as great a risk as the intake of preformed N-nitrosodimethylamine in the diet. In contrast, the risk posed by the in-vivo nitrosation of primary and secondary amines is probably negligible. The risk contributed by amides (including protein), guanidines and primary amino acids is intermediate between these two extremes.