Nitrosonornicotine

Nitrosonornicotine (NNN) is a tobacco-specific nitrosamine that is found primarily in tobacco products. It is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), indicating that it is carcinogenic to humans.

Chemistry

NNN is a nitrosamine, which is a type of chemical compound that contains a nitroso group (-NO) and an amine group (-NH2). The chemical formula for NNN is C10H14N2O. It is a yellow, oily liquid at room temperature.

Sources and Exposure

The primary source of NNN is tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless tobacco. NNN is formed during the curing and processing of tobacco. It can also be formed in the body from nornicotine, a metabolite of nicotine.

Health Effects

NNN is a potent carcinogen. It has been shown to cause lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and oral cancer in laboratory animals. The IARC has classified NNN as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that it can cause cancer in humans.

Regulation

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a product standard to limit the levels of NNN in smokeless tobacco products. The proposed standard would limit the amount of NNN to no more than 1 microgram per gram of tobacco.

See Also

• Tobacco-specific nitrosamines
• Carcinogen
• Lung cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Oral cancer