Dietary sources of N-nitrosamines in a high-risk area for oesophageal cancer--Kashmir, India.

Samples of foods consumed frequently in Kashmir, a high-risk area for oesophageal cancer, were analysed for the presence of volatile N-nitrosamines. Relatively high levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) and N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) were detected in smoked fish (20 micrograms/kg NDMA), sun-dried spinach (5.8 micrograms/kg NDMA; 23.8 micrograms/kg NPIP), sun-dried pumpkin (24.6 micrograms/kg NPYR) and dried, mixed vegetables (10 micrograms/kg NDMA). The possible role of N-nitrosamines in the etiology of oesophageal cancer in Kashmir is discussed.