Cynor Laboratories

N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) is an organic compound with the formula Et₂NNO (Et = C₂H₅). A member of the nitrosamines, it is a light-sensitive, volatile, clear yellow oil that is soluble in water, lipids, and other organic solvents. It has an amine or aromatic odor. It is used as gasoline and lubricant additive, antioxidant, and stabilizer for industry materials. When heated to decomposition, N-nitrosodiethylamine emits toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides. N-Nitrosodiethylamine affects DNA integrity, probably by alkylation, and is used in experimental research to induce liver tumorigenesis.^[2] It is carcinogenic and mutagenic.^[3] NDEA has also been found to perturb amino acid biosynthesis including arginine, as well as DNA damage repair and mitochondrial genome maintenance in yeast.

N-Nitrosodi-n-butylamine is a yellow, viscous, oily nitrosamine that is highly unstable in the presence of light. N-Nitrosodiethanolamine is ubiquitously found in the environment and is a contaminant formed by the reaction of nitrites with ethanolamines in a wide range of products including tobacco, pesticides, antifreeze and personal care products. This substance is only used for research purposes to induce tumors in experimental animals. N-Nitrosodiethanolamine is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.