_________________________________________ 

 

 

PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

n-NITROSODI-n-PROPYLAMINE 

 CAS#: 7440-07-5 

Division of Toxicology September 1990 

This Public Health Statement is the summary chapter 

from the Toxicological Profile for n-Nitrosodi-npropylamine. It is one in a series of Public Health 

Statements about hazardous substances and their 

health effects. A shorter version, the ToxFAQsTM, is 

also available. This information is important because 

this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure 

to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the 

duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and 

habits, and whether other chemicals are present. For 

more information, call the ATSDR Information 

Center at 1-888-422-8737. 

1.1 WHAT IS n-NITROSODI-n-PROPYLAMINE? 

n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine is a yellow liquid at room 

temperature that does not dissolve in water and 

evaporates slowly. It is a man-made chemical made 

in small amounts for use in research. There is no 

evidence that n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine exists 

naturally in soil, air, food, or water. Small amounts of 

n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine are produced as a side 

reaction during some manufacturing processes, as a 

contaminant in some commonly available weed 

killers (dinitroaniline-based), and during the 

manufacture of some rubber products. When exposed 

to sunlight, n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine usually does 

not last for more than a day. Without sunlight (e.g., in 

water deeper than sunlight reaches or in subsurface 

soil) n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine breaks down 

slowly. It takes between 14 and 80 days for one-half 

of any certain amount of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine 

to break down when it is released to the subsurface 

soil. 

1.2 HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO 

n-NITROSODI-n-PROPYLAMINE? 

Persons may be exposed to n-Nitrosodi-npropylamine by eating foods treated with nitrite 

preservatives (e.g., cheeses, cured meats) and 

drinking certain alcoholic beverages. n-Nitrosodi-npropylamine forms in the stomach during digestion of 

nitrite-treated foods and foods that contain certain 

amines, particularly di-n-propylamine. Amines occur 

in some medicines and in a variety of foods. Levels 

of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine found in food and 

alcoholic beverages range between 0.03 parts per 

billion (ppb) in fried, salt- preserved fish to 30 ppb 

in cheese. The general population may be exposed to 

n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine in cigarette smoke. 

Workers making molded rubber products have been 

exposed to levels of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine in 

workroom air that were measured in parts of 

compound per trillion parts (ppt) of air. Workers 

applying contaminated weed killers may also be 

exposed to extremely low (ppt) levels of n-Nitrosodin-propylamine. At this time, n-Nitrosodi-npropylamine has been found in at least 1 of 1177 

hazardous waste sites on the National Priorities List 

(NPL) in the United States. Workers and the general 

population at these sites could possibly be exposed to 

this compound by skin contact, breathing, and eating 

contaminated items. 

1.3 HOW CAN n-NITROSODI-n-PROPYLAMINE 

ENTER AND LEAVE MY BODY? 

n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine can enter the body when a 

person breathes air that contains n-Nitrosodi-nDEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

n-NITROSODI-n-PROPYLAMINE 

 CAS#: 7440-07-5 

Division of Toxicology September 1990 

propylamine, or eats food or drinks water 

contaminated with n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine. 

n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine is not likely to get into 

your body unless you eat certain foods, drink 

alcoholic beverages, or are exposed to it at a waste 

disposal site by breathing n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine 

vapors. It is likely that n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine 

can enter the body by direct skin contact with wastes, 

pesticides, or soil that contains it. Experiments with 

animals suggest that if n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine 

enters the body, it will be broken down into other 

compounds and will leave the body in the urine. 

1.4 HOW CAN n-NITROSODI-n-PROPYLAMINE 

AFFECT MY HEALTH? 

The effects of short- or long-term exposures to nNitrosodi-n-propylamine on human health have not 

been studied. Little is known about the health effects 

of short exposures to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine in 

experimental animals except that eating or drinking 

certain amounts of this chemical can cause liver 

disease and death. Long-term exposure of 

experimental animals to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine 

in food or drinking water causes cancer of the liver, 

esophagus, and nasal cavities. Although human 

studies are not available, the animal evidence 

indicates that it is reasonable to expect that exposure 

to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine by eating or drinking 

could cause liver disease and cancer in humans. It is 

not known whether other effects, such as birth 

defects, occur in animals or could occur in humans 

exposed to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine by eating or 

drinking. It is also not known whether exposure to nNitrosodi-n-propylamine by breathing contaminated 

air or contact with the skin can affect the health of 

animals or humans. Liver disease and cancer due to 

exposure to n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine by breathing 

or skin contact are, however, a possibility and a 

health concern. 

1.5 IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO DETERMINE 

WHETHER I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO nNITROSODI-n-PROPYLAMINE? 

The presence of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine in blood 

and urine can be measured by chemical analysis, but 

this analysis is not usually available at your doctor's 

office and has not been used to test for human 

exposure or to predict possible health effects. 

1.6 WHAT LEVELS OF EXPOSURE HAVE 

RESULTED IN HARMFUL HEALTH 

EFFECTS? 

As discussed above, no information is available on 

the health effects of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine in 

people. In animals, liver injury and death have been 

seen from short-term exposure to levels of 308 parts 

of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine per million parts of 

food (ppm) and above. 

1.7 WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HAS THE 

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE TO 

PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH? 

The EPA controls the release of n-Nitrosodi-npropylamine. It is proposed that releases or spills of 

10 pounds or more of n-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine 

must be reported to the National Response Center. 

The federal recommendations have been updated as 

of July 1999. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

n-NITROSODI-n-PROPYLAMINE 

 CAS#: 7440-07-5 

Division of Toxicology September 1990 

1.8 WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? 

If you have any more questions or concerns, please 

contact your community or state health or 

environmental quality department or: 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

Division of Toxicology 

1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32 

Atlanta, GA 30333 

Information line and technical assistance: 

Phone: 888-422-8737 

FAX: (770)-488-4178 

ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational 

and environmental health clinics. These clinics 

specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating 

illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous 

substances. 

To order toxicological profiles, contact: 

National Technical Information Service 

5285 Port Royal Road 

Springfield, VA 22161 

Phone: 800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000 

Reference 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

(ATSDR). 1989. Toxicological profile for nNitrosodi-n-propylamine. Atlanta, GA: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Public 

Health Service. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov