Stability of Nitrosamines in Samples of Lake Water, Soil, and Sewage2

Abstract

N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine, and N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine were resistant to degradation in soil, sewage, and lake water. No degradation ot these nitrosamines was observed in lake water during a 3.5-month period. Alag of nearly 30 days occurred before their slow disappearance from soil; they disappeared slowly from sewage, but a minimum of 50% remained after 14 days. The results with sewage and soil suggest a microbial involvement in the slow decomposition of these nitrosamines.