Occupational exposure to N-nitroso compounds.

N-Nitrosodiphenylamine is used as an additive in the rubber industry. This N-nitrosamine has not been associated with carcinogenic effects in laboratory animals. However, it can serve as a powerful transnitrosation agent, reacting with amines present in the rubber mixture to form other N-nitrosamines; e.g., N-nitrosodibutylamine from di-n-butylamine and N-nitrosodimethylamine from tetramethylthiuram disulfide. Di-n-butylamine and tetramethylthiuram disulfide are both used as additives in the rubber industry.