A rapid method for the determination of sub-part per billion amounts of N-nitroso compounds in foodstuffs.

A new analytical clean-up technique, designed specifically for the analysis of N-nitroso compounds with a thermal energy analyzer and a gas Chromatograph, is described. Only two steps are required; vacuum distillation from mineral oil followed by extraction with dichloromethane. The sensitivity for N-nitroso compounds in foodstuffs is at the 5 μg kg^-1 level, but if a dichloromethane extract is concentrated on a Kuderna Danish evaporator, a 100-fold increase is attainable. The method can be used for any foodstuff or biological material, and the quantitation of any N-nitroso compounds amenable to gas chromatography is possible.