CHRONIC TOXICITY OF SODIUM-NITRITE IN MICE, WITH REFERENCE TO ITS TUMORIGENICITY

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 70  (2) , 203-208
Abstract
Sodium nitrite is widely used as 1 of the most effective food additives to tinge color on cured meat. This chemical is a precursor of N-nitroso compounds, many of which are strongly carcinogenic, and a mutagenic substance in biological tests. To ascertain the possible tumorigenicity of sodium nitrite itself, chronic toxicity of the agent in mice, by means of daily oral administration as drinking water for more than 18 mo., in the concentration of 0.5 (maximum tolerated dose), 0.25 and 0.125%, was tested. Various tumors, including thymic lymphoma, nonthymic lymphoid leukemia, pulmonary adenoma and carcinoma, and benign and malignant tumors in soft tissue, developed in these mice. As to the incidence of tumors as well as the developmental time of each histologically classified tumor, no apparent difference was detected between those in the experimental groups and the control group.