Skip to main content
Log in

Nitrosamines in Aquatic Ecosystems: Sources, Formation, Toxicity, Environmental Risk (Review). 2. Content In Aquatic Biota, Biological Effects and Risk Assessment

  • HYDROCHEMISTRY, HYDROBIOLOGY: ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
  • Published:
Water Resources Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Natural and anthropogenic processes contribute to the formation of excessive concentrations of nitrogen compounds in the biosphere. As a result of chemical reactions, this may lead to the synthesis of nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are toxic agents that show carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties and have a negative effect on living beings. The data on the content of these substances in aquatic biota, primarily in fish, the dependence of their accumulation in aquatic organisms on seasonal factors, species and biological characteristics of fish, as well as on environmental conditions, including anthropogenic load are presented. Examples of the manifestation of carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic properties of nitrosamines in aquatic and terrestrial organisms are given. Methods and techniques for assessing the ecological risk of nitrosamines in the natural environment and in aquatic biota, as well as the hazard to human health are shown.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Benemanskii, V.V., Prusakov, V.M., and Leshchenko, M.E., Study on the blastomogenic effect of low concentrations of nitrosodimethylamine, dimethylamine and nitrogen dioxide, Vopr. Onkol.,1981, vol. 27, no. 10, pp. 56–62.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Val’ter, A.I., Kasatkina, O.A., and Petrenko, A.E., On the method for the analysis of nitrosamines in food products), Gig. Sanit., 1996, no. 6, pp. 49–50.

  3. Voronin, V.M., Litvinov, N.N., Kazachkov, V.I., Shamarin, A.A., and Zhurkov, V.S., Study on the dependence of carcinogenic effect on the cancerogenecity effect on N-nitrosodiethylamine concentration, Vopr. Onkol.,1989, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 685–689.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gershenzon, V.E., Smirnova, E.V., and Elias, V.V., Informatsionnye tekhnologii v upravlenii kachestvom sredy obitaniya (Information technologies for management of environment), Moscow: Academia, 2009.

  5. Gichev, Yu.P., Zagryaznenie okruzhayushchei sredy i zdorov’e cheloveka (Environmental Pollution and Human Health), Moscow. 230 p.

  6. Davydov, O.N., Isaeva, N.M., Kurovskaya, L.Ya., and Bazeev, R.E., The role of toxic pollution in tumore formation in fish, Gidrobiol. Zh., 2001, vol. 37, no. 5, pp. 81–97.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dmitrienko, N.P., Kishko, O., and Shandarenko, S.G., On the role of xantin oxidase in cytotoxic effects of nitrates and nitrites, Ukr. Biokhim. Zh., 2001, vol. 73, no. 6, pp. 113–117.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Zul’figarov, O.S. and Yurchenko, V.V., Carcinogenic N-nitrosamines, toxic properties, formation, determination, Sovremennye Problemy toksikologii, 2005, no. 1, pp. 53–57.

  9. Il’nitskii, A.P., Yurchenko, V.A., Zhukova, G.F., and Ermilov, V.B., Assessment of extent of hazard of low doses of nitrites, Vopr. Onkol.,1989, vol. 36, no. 7, pp. 843–847.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Klochenko, P.D., Mikhailenko, V.M., and Shevchenko, T.F., Influence of nitrosamines on development of phytoplankton, Gidrobiol. Zh., 2001, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 30–38.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Klochenko, P.D., Sakevich, A.I., Usenko, O.M., and Shevchenko, T.F., Change in structure of phytoplankton under effect of urea, Gidrobiol. Zhur., 2000, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 62–74.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Moiseenko, T.I., Evolution of biogeochemical cycles in modern conditions of anthropogenic loads: exposure limits, Geokhimiya, 2017, no. 10, pp. 1–22.

  13. Moiseenko, T.I. and Rudneva, I.I., Global pollution and functions of nitrogen in the hydrosphere, Dokl. Akad. Nauk, 2008, vol. 420, no. 3, pp. 395–400.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Nitraty, nitrity i N-nitrozosoedineniya. Gigienicheskie kriterii sostoyaniya okruzhayushchei sredy (Nitrates, Nitrites and N-nitroso Compounds. Hygienic Criteria for the State of the Environment)., Geneva: WHO, 1981, p. 118.

  15. Omel’chenko, S.O., Content of nitrosamines in some mass species of the Black Sea fish, Agroekol Zhurn, 2004, no. 3, pp. 71–73.

  16. Omel’chenko, S.O., Seasonal dynamics of nitrosamine content in some species of the Black Sea fish, Agroekologicheskii Zhurn, 2006, no. 1, pp. 72–75.

  17. Omel’chenko, S.O., The state of nitogen metabolism in fish in the condtions of pollution by nitrosamines and toxic elements. Extended Abstract of Cand. Sci. (Biol.) Dissertation. Odessa: Odesskii nats. un-t, 2009.

  18. Omel’chenko, S.O., Ecotoxicological assessment of some species of the Black Sea fish), Uch. Zap. Tavricheskogo nats. un-ta, Ser. Biologiya. 2012. vol. 25. no. 4, pp. 144–149.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Omel’chenko, S.O. and Zalevskaya, I.N., Influence of microbial pollution and content of nitrosamines on the changes in nitrogen metabolism in thissues of the Black Sea fish, Uch. Zap. Krymskogo federal’nogo un-ta, Ser. Biologiya i Khimiya 2015. vol. 1. no. 3. pp. 39–48.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Omel’chenko, S.O., Zalevskaya, I.N., Mashcheva, O.L., and Rudneva, I.I., Seasonal features of nitrogen metabolism and content of nitrosamines in scorpionfish, Ekosistemy Kryma, Ikh optimizatsiya i okhrana, 2006, no. 16, pp. 78–82.

  21. Omel’chenko, S.O., Chesnokova, I.I., and Zalevskaya, I.N., Features of nitrogen metabolism and content of nitrosamines in tissues of the Black Sea fish belonging to different ecological groups, Uch. Zap. Krymskogo federal’nogo un-ta, Ser. Biologiya i Khimiya, 2016. vol. 2. no. 2. pp. 47–57.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Rubenchik, B.L., Obrazovanie kantserogenov iz soedinenii azota (Formation of Carcinogens from Nitrogen Compounds), Kiev: Nauk. dumka, 1990.

  23. Rudneva, I.I., Mel’nikova, E.B., Kuz’minova, N.S., Omel’chenko, S.O., Zalevskaya, I.N., and Simchuk, G.V., Influence of ecological factors on the level of nitrosamines in marine fishes, Ekol. Khimiya, 2007, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 166–175.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Rudneva, I.I., Mel’nikova, E.B., Kuz’minova, N.S., Omel’chenko, S.O., Zalevskaya, I.N., and Simchuk, G.V., Assessment of the impact of mineral nitrogen compounds on bottom fish in the Black Sea bays, Vodn. Resur., 2008, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 260–267.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rudneva, I.I., Mel’nikova, E.B., and Omel’chenko, S.O., Content of nitrsamines in mass fish species of the Black Sea, Rybnoe Khoz-vo Ukrainy, 2006, no. 5-6, pp. 47–49.

  26. Tutel'yan, V.A. and Luneva, N.V., On the mechanism of acute toxic action of N-nitrosodimethylamine, Farmakol. Toksikol., 1983, no. 9, pp. 111–114.

  27. Khudolei, V.V., The role of age in carcinogenesis induced by N-nitrosodimethylamine and N-dimethylnitramine in amphibians, Vopr. Onkol., 1981, vol. 27, no. 10, pp. 67–71.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Khudolei, V.V., Malavei, V.K., and Barch, Kh., Study of mutagenic properties of carcinogenic N-nitrosamines in vivo and in vitro. Vopr. onkologii, 1981, vol. 27, no. 7, pp. 843–847.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Ekotoksikologicheskie issledovaniya pribrezhnoi chernomorskoi ikhtiofauny v raione Sevastopolya (Ecotoxicological Studies of the Coastal Black Sea Fish Fauna in the Area of Sevastopol) Rudneva, I.I., Ed., Moscow: Izd-vo GEOS, 2016

  30. Yanysheva, N.Ya., On the methodological issues of standardization of chemical carcinogenic compounds in the environment, Gig. Sanit., 2003, no. 1, pp. 54–57.

  31. Barabasz W.E., Rozycki E., and Smyk B. The occurrence of carcinogenic nitrosamines in the aquatic environment (fishponds in wetlands), Acta-Hydrobiol Cracow, 1995, vol. 37, pp. 23–27.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Bartsch, H., Camus, A., and Malaveille, C., Comparative mutagenicity of n-nitrosamines in a semisolid and a liquid incubation system in the presence of rat or human tissue fractions, mutation research, Fundam. Mol. Mech. Mutagen., 1976, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 149–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Bieniarz, K., Epler, P., Kime, D., Sokolowska-Mikolajczyk, M., Popek, W., and Mikolajczyk, T. Effects of n, n-dimethylnitrosamine (dmna) on in vitro oocyte maturation and embryonic development of fertilized eggs of carp (Cyprinus carpio l.) kept in eutrophied ponds, J. Appl. Toxicol, 1996, vol. 16, pp. 153–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Gao, S., Li, C., Jia, C., Zhang, H., Guan, Q., Wu, X., and Wang, J., Lv, M. Health risk assessment of groundwater nitrate contamination: a case study of a typical karst hydrogeological unit in East China, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 2020, vol. 27, pp. 9274–9287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Goodall, M. and Kennedy, T. Carcinogenicity of dimethylnitramine in the NZR rats and, NZO mice, Cancer Lett., 1976, vol. 1, pp. 295–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Haman, K.H., Norton, T.M., Thomas, A.C., Dove, A.D.M., and Tseng F. Baseline health parameters and species comparisons among free-ranging Atlantic sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae), bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo) and spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) sharks in Georgia, Florida, and Washington, USA, J. Wildlife Diseases, 2012, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 205–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. He, X. and Huang, Chapter 7. Assessment technologies for hazards/risks of wastewater. High-Risk Pollutants in Wastewater. Amsterdam: Elsevier Inc., 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Huang, J., Xu, C.-C., Ridoutt, B.G., Wang, X.-C., and Ren, P.-A. Nitrogen and phosphorus losses and eutrophication potential associated with fertilizer application to cropland in China, J. Cleaner Prod., 2017, vol. 159, pp. 171–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Jensen, F.B., Nitrite disrupts multiple physiological functions in aquatic animals, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part A: Mol. Integr. Physiol., 2003, vol. 135, no. 1, pp. 9–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Kartal, B.K., J.G. Kuenen, M.C., Loosdrecht, M.V., Sewage treatment with anammox, Sci., 2010, vol. 328, pp. 702–703.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Naing, N.N., Sze, ChiehTan S.Ch., and Lee, H.K., 16—Micro-Solid-Phase Extraction. Handbooks in separation science, Amsterdam: Elsevier Inc., 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Priya, E.R., Ravichandrana, S., Gobinatha, Th., Tilvib, S., and Devib, P.S., Functional characterization of anti-cancer sphingolipids from the marine crab Dromia dehanni, Chem. Phys. Lipids, 2019, vol. 221, pp. 73–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Rudneva, I.I., Kuzminova, N.S., and Omelchenko, S.O., Trace elements and nitrosamines concentration in the Black sea elasmobranch species, Asian J. Biol. Life Sci, 2012, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 51– 57.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Rudneva, I.I., Melnikova, E.B., and Omelchenko, S.O., Seasonal variations of nitrosamine content in some Black sea fish species, Turk. J. of Fish. Aquat. Sci, 2008, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 283– 287.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Sang, N.J., Lee, S.J., Shin, J.H., and Kim, J.G., The formation of N-nitrosamine in Alaska Pollack during its drying, J. Korean Fish. Soc., 1997, vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 753–758.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Sole, M., Rodriguez, S., Papiol, V., Maynou, F., and Cartes, J.E., Xenobiotic metabolism markers in marine fish with different trophic strategies and their relationship to ecological variables, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 2009, vol. 149, pp. 83–89.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Yurchenko, V.V. and Molder, U., Volatile N-Nitrosamines in various fish products. Food Chem. 2006, vol. 96, pp. 325–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Zou, X.N., Volatile N-nitrosamines and their precursors in Chinese salted fish—a possible etiological factor for NPC in China. Int. J. Cancer., 1994, vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 155–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The study was carried out within the frames of State Task of A.O. Kovalevsky FRC IBSS RAS (program “Functional, metabolic and toxicological aspects of existence of aquatic organisms and their population in the biotopes with various physico-chemical regimes,” State Registration АААА-А18-118021490093-4).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to I. I. Rudneva or S. O. Omel’chenko.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rudneva, I.I., Omel’chenko, S.O. Nitrosamines in Aquatic Ecosystems: Sources, Formation, Toxicity, Environmental Risk (Review). 2. Content In Aquatic Biota, Biological Effects and Risk Assessment. Water Resour 48, 291–299 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807821020135

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807821020135

Keywords:

Navigation