Experimental assessment of the hazard of water contamination by nitrosodimethylamine

Introduction. The intensive development of the space industry has led to serious environmental contamination by rocket fuel components, in particular, heptyl and its degradation products, the most toxic and dangerous of which is nitrosodimethylamine.

In order to ensure federal state sanitary and epidemiological control (supervision) over the content of this substance in reservoirs within the framework of hygienic rationing, it is necessary to conduct appropriate studies to assess organoleptic, general sanitary and toxicological signs of harmfulness in conditions of single exposure.

Material and methods. Nitrosodimethylamine (N-methyl-N-nitrosomethanamine, dimethylnitrosamine, NDMA, C₂H₆N₂O), CAS number 62-75-9, with a specific gravity of d₄²⁰ = 1,005 g/cm³, a mass fraction of 98% and a molecular weight of 74.08 was used as the object of research. It is well soluble in water.

Results. It was found that nitrosodimethylamine does not change the organoleptic properties of water. At the same time, the negative effect of the compound on the general sanitary characteristics of water (processes of biochemical oxygen consumption, nitrification, viability of saprophytic microflora) was revealed. The lowest threshold concentration of the substance for this indicator of harmfulness was 0.1 mg/l.

With a single intragastric injection to male rats, the tested xenobiotic caused a significant decrease in the number of leukocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes. The threshold for a single general toxic effect of the toxicant is set at 0.38 mg/kg.

Limitations. The identified features of the NDMA behavior must be taken into account when it once pollutes the water of reservoirs (in case of an emergency). However, the data obtained are insufficient to substantiate the hygienic standards of compounds in the water of water bodies.

Conclusion. The data obtained indicate that the ingress of the compound into the water is an ecological and toxicological hazard, registered according to two basic signs of harmfulness. The revealed features of the negative effect of nitrosodimethylamine are taken into account when substantiating its MPC in the water of reservoirs.

Compliance with ethical standards. The experimental study was approved by the independent ethics committee at the Research Institute of General Pathology of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia (protocol No. 1 dated January 20, 2022).

Contribution:
Novikova O.N. – editing;
Maslennikov А.А. – the concept and design of the research, the analysis of the results, writing the text;
Demidova S.A. – planning and execution of the research;
Vasenko E.A. – statistical data processing;
Dulov S.A. – the concept and design of the research, analysis of the results, editing;
Zemlyanoy A.V., Yerunova N.V. – analysis of the results, editing.
All co-authors – approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Funding. The study was conducted within the framework of a State contract "Experimental substantiation of the maximum permissible concentration of nitrosodimethylamine in the water of water bodies for household and drinking, cultural and domestic water use".

Received: September 17, 2025 / Revised: September 29, 2025 / Accepted: October 2, 2025 / Published: November 19, 2025

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