IARC MONOGRAPHS

In 1969, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) initiated a programme on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans involving the production of critically evaluated monographs on individual chemicals. The programme was subsequently expanded to include evaluations of carcinogenic risks associated with exposures to complex mixtures, lifestyle factors and biological and physical agents, as well as those in specific occupations. The objective of the programme is to elaborate and publish in the form of monographs critical reviews of data on carcinogenicity for agents to which humans are known to be exposed and on specific exposure situations; to evaluate these data in terms of human risk with the help of international working groups of experts in chemical carcinogenesis and related fields; and to indicate where additional research efforts are needed. The lists of IARC evaluations are regularly updated and are available on Internet: http://monographs.iarc.fr/

This programme has been supported since 1982 by Cooperative Agreement U01 CA33193 with the United States National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services. Additional support has been provided since 1986 by the Health, Safety and Hygiene at Work Unit of the European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, and since 1992 by the United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Health and Human Services. The contents of this volume are solely the responsibility of the Working Group and do not necessarily represent the official views of the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or the European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.

This volume was made possible, in part, through Cooperative Agreement CR 834012 with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development. The contents of this volume do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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IARC Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

• Ingested nitrate and nitrite, and cyanobacterial peptide toxins / IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans (2006: Lyon, France)
• (IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans; v. 94)
• 1. Bacterial Toxins - toxicity 2. Carcinogens 3. Marine Toxins - toxicity 4. Microcystins 5. Nitrates - toxicity 6. Nitrites - toxicity 7. Peptides, Cyclic - toxicity I. IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans II. Series
• ISBN 978 92 832 1294 2 (NLM Classification: W1)
• ISSN 1017-1606
• PRINTED IN FRANCE

Intensive use of nitrogen fertilizers in crop culture and manure from animal feeding operations may be significant sources of nitrate in some regions like Brittany, France, leading to euthrophication and the excessive growth of green algae. The growth of peptide-toxin-producing cyanobacteria is favoured in waters where eutrophication occurs.

Ham, bacon, and some sausages are preserved with salt and sodium or potassium nitrite. Ascorbate is often added to inhibit the formation of N-nitrosamines before the cured meat is eaten. N-nitrosamines can also form in the stomach unless inhibited by vitamin C or other antioxidants. Kiwi and citrus fruits are rich sources of antioxidants.

Cover design: Roland Dray and Yann Grosse, IARC