Abstract

N-nitrosamines make up a family of chemical compounds used in rubber industries, in industries using secondary amines, and in fish preservation and processing, and leather industries, etc. Since 2007, the IRSST’s laboratories have carried out important development work that made it possible to produce and offer a method for analyzing nitrosamines in the air by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection (GC-NPD). However, nitrosamine analysis using GC-NPD can sometimes present limitations in its sensitivity and specificity, depending on the workplace evaluated.

The researchers want to develop a sensitive and more specific analytical method for nitrosamines in workplace air by using liquid chromatography paired with mass spectrometry. Furthermore, a literature study and laboratory tests will be carried out in order to determine the appropriate procedure for processing the sample.