Jul 20, 2022

A new ASTM International standard provides a test method for finding low concentrations of nitrosamines, a suspected type of carcinogen, in water. The standard (D8456) was developed by ASTM’s water committee (D19).

Nitrosamines exist in low concentrations in water, foods, vegetables, and dairy products. According to ASTM International member William Lipps, this standard presents a relatively easy measurement technique for nitrosamines. “Since nitrosamines are water-soluble, water testing labs can use the standard to check for them in water matrices,” says Lipps. “Manufacturers and labs testing consumer goods and foods can also use the method to test for trace nitrosamines.”

The new standard is also a move forward in sustainability for this form of water testing. “This method decreases required sample volumes, compared to other nitrosamine methods, thus lowering the carbon footprint, and requires a significantly smaller volume of solvent,” notes Lipps. “It also does not use hazardous solvents such as methylene chloride, and it requires limited consumables.”  

The standard is a collaboration among D19 members in the United States and India, and the water committee will be recruiting for an inter-laboratory study within the next few years.

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