Quantitative determination of carcinogens and mutagens as alkylating agents following chemical activation.

Reaction of nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in a non-enzymatic, chemical activation system consisting of ascorbic acid, ferrous ions, EDTA and molecular oxygen yielded an alkylating intermediate that was detected by its reaction with 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (PNBP) to yield a colored product. Reaction conditions for the chemical activation-detection system were optimized, allowing detection of approx. 10 mumol NDEA. The method detected a variety of acyclic and cyclic nitrosamines and other compounds that become alkylating agents only following oxidative metabolism.