Volatile nitrosamines have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as probable or possible carcinogenic compounds to humans^[1]. Exposure to volatile nitrosamines can come from the environment, drinking water, diet and tobacco products. Due to potential for health concerns it is necessary to develop a method that is selective and sensitive enough to determine ppb levels in tobacco products. This method was developed to quantitatively determine the concentration of N-Nitrosodimethylamnie, N-Nitrosoethylmethylamine, N-Nitrosodiethylamine, N-Nitrosomorpholine, Nitrosopyrrolidine, and N-Nitrosopiperdine, in smokeless tobacco. Tobacco samples are extracted with aqueous 0.01N potassium hydroxide using Chem Elut cartridges. The VNAs are separated on a DB-1701 30 meter by 0.25 mm column. Positive chemical ionization is used to obtain the molecular ion of each VNA. Identification and quantitation is performed on a TSQ Quantum GC triple quadrupole mass spectrometer from ThermoFisher. Quantitation was performed by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of the precursor ion to a product ion specific for each compound. Deuterium analogs of the VNWs are used as internal standards. VNA's in smokeless tobacco products were not detected at levels below 0.5 ng/g (dry tobacco weight).

[1] IARC Some N-nitroso compounds, IARC monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans. Vol 17 (1978)