nitrosamine

American  

[nahy-troh-suh-meen, nahy-trohs-am-in] / naɪˈtroʊ səˌmin, ˌnaɪ troʊsˈæm ɪn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. any of a series of compounds with the type formula R 2 NNO, some of which are carcinogenic, formed in cured meats by the conversion of nitrite.

---

nitrosamine British  

/ ˌnaɪtrəʊsəˈmiːn, ˌnaɪtrəʊsˈæmiːn /

noun

1. any one of a class of neutral, usually yellow oily compounds containing the divalent group =NNO

---

nitrosamine Scientific  

/ nī-trō′sə-mēn′,nī′trōs-ăm′ēn /

1. Any of a class of organic compounds with the general formula R ₂ NNO or RNHNO, where R is an organic radical. Nitrosamines are present in various foods and other products, and certain ones are very carcinogenic.

---

Etymology

Origin of nitrosamine

1875–80; nitros- ( def. ) + amine

Example Sentences

Scientists at the agency have set a lifetime exposure to nitrosamine in medication at 37 nanogram per day, though it will allow up to 246 nanograms in sitagliptin for the time being.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2022

Since 2018, federal regulators have alerted the public about nitrosamine contamination in samples of the heartburn medication Zantac, the antibiotic rifampin and the smoking-cessation drug Chantix.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2022

The impurity, known as NTTP, belongs to the family of nitrosamine compounds that have in recent years been discovered in a number of medications.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2022

More than 60 years ago, in 1956, two British researchers called Peter Magee and John Barnes found that when rats were fed dimethyl nitrosamine, they developed malignant liver tumours.

From The Guardian • Mar. 1, 2018

The best known of these compounds is nitrosamine.

From The Guardian • Mar. 1, 2018