Nitrosamines in Aquatic Ecosystems: Sources, Formation, Toxicity, Environmental Risk (Review). 2. Content In Aquatic Biota, Biological Effects and Risk Assessment

Natural and anthropogenic processes contribute to the formation of excessive concentrations of nitrogen compounds in the biosphere. As a result of chemical reactions, this may lead to the synthesis of nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are toxic agents that show carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties and have a negative effect on living beings. The data on the content of these substances in aquatic biota, primarily in fish, the dependence of their accumulation in aquatic organisms on seasonal factors, species and biological characteristics of fish, as well as on environmental conditions, including anthropogenic load are presented. Examples of the manifestation of carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic properties of nitrosamines in aquatic and terrestrial organisms are given. Methods and techniques for assessing the ecological risk of nitrosamines in the natural environment and in aquatic biota, as well as the hazard to human health are shown.