N-nitrosamines in surface and drinking waters: An African status report

N-Nitrosamines are considered highly carcinogenic and genotoxic compounds, which are formed in water largely due to chloramination or chlorination disinfection in the presence of ammonia. N-nitro-sodimethylamine has particularly attracted interest due to its high carcinogenicity. This review seeks to provide a synopsis of the present state of knowledge on the occurrence, toxicity, and analysis of N-ni-trosamines in African surface and drinking water and highlights limitations and future directions. Solid phase extraction is preferred for nitrosamines in water, whilst analysis is mainly based on GC-MS or LC -MS. Extensive research into the distribution and potential impacts of N-nitrosamines in water has not yet been achieved on the African continent. There is a need for comprehensive research towards the development of sensitive but facile analytical methods for N-nitrosamines, and the monitoring thereof in African water matrices, particularly in drinking water, in order to better assess potential human health implications. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.