Analysis and risk assessment of nitrosamines in sartans using GC-MS and Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract The precise detection of nitrosamines at very low levels in various substances is crucial because of their known toxicity and potential to cause genetic mutations. As a result, regulations have been established to evaluate the risk of nitrosamines and manage their presence in pharmaceutical...

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Main Authors: Fatemeh Shomali, Zahra Talebpour, Ghazaleh Abedi, Nilufar Mousavi, Shiva Mokhtarifar, Marjan Kohandani, Vahideh Mahdavi, Noushin Adib
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97844-0
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author Fatemeh Shomali
Zahra Talebpour
Ghazaleh Abedi
Nilufar Mousavi
Shiva Mokhtarifar
Marjan Kohandani
Vahideh Mahdavi
Noushin Adib
author_facet Fatemeh Shomali
Zahra Talebpour
Ghazaleh Abedi
Nilufar Mousavi
Shiva Mokhtarifar
Marjan Kohandani
Vahideh Mahdavi
Noushin Adib
author_sort Fatemeh Shomali
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The precise detection of nitrosamines at very low levels in various substances is crucial because of their known toxicity and potential to cause genetic mutations. As a result, regulations have been established to evaluate the risk of nitrosamines and manage their presence in pharmaceuticals. In this study, we developed an analytical method involving solvent extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of N-nitrosodimethylamine and N-nitrosodiethylamine based on the internal standard method. According to validated results based on ICH guidelines, calibration curves spanned from 2.5 to 40 ng mL−1 with a limit of quantitation of 0.015 µg g−1 for N-nitrosodimethylamine and 0.003 µg g−1 for N-nitrosodiethylamine, meeting the US FDA requirements. The method’s relative recovery was 80–120%, with a relative standard deviation of ≤ 12%. Then, the levels of both nitrosamines were determined using the validated method in 84 samples of active pharmaceutical ingredients or finished products, including valsartan, valsartan methyl ester, sacubitril/valsartan, losartan, and telmisartan. Additionally, we utilized Monte Carlo simulation to assess the potential health risks associated with the use of sartans. According to the obtained results, the Hazard index values were found to be less than 1 indicating that children and adult users may not be at risk of health problems.
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spelling doaj-art-4f2cac7fc95941a3b4af8a5d011e0d7d2025-08-20T03:10:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-97844-0Analysis and risk assessment of nitrosamines in sartans using GC-MS and Monte Carlo simulationFatemeh Shomali0Zahra Talebpour1Ghazaleh Abedi2Nilufar Mousavi3Shiva Mokhtarifar4Marjan Kohandani5Vahideh Mahdavi6Noushin Adib7Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Alzahra UniversityDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Alzahra UniversityAnalytical and Bioanalytical Research Centre, Alzahra UniversityAnalytical and Bioanalytical Research Centre, Alzahra UniversityDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Alzahra UniversityDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Alzahra UniversityIranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (IRIPP), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)Food and Drug Laboratory Research Center, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of HealthAbstract The precise detection of nitrosamines at very low levels in various substances is crucial because of their known toxicity and potential to cause genetic mutations. As a result, regulations have been established to evaluate the risk of nitrosamines and manage their presence in pharmaceuticals. In this study, we developed an analytical method involving solvent extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of N-nitrosodimethylamine and N-nitrosodiethylamine based on the internal standard method. According to validated results based on ICH guidelines, calibration curves spanned from 2.5 to 40 ng mL−1 with a limit of quantitation of 0.015 µg g−1 for N-nitrosodimethylamine and 0.003 µg g−1 for N-nitrosodiethylamine, meeting the US FDA requirements. The method’s relative recovery was 80–120%, with a relative standard deviation of ≤ 12%. Then, the levels of both nitrosamines were determined using the validated method in 84 samples of active pharmaceutical ingredients or finished products, including valsartan, valsartan methyl ester, sacubitril/valsartan, losartan, and telmisartan. Additionally, we utilized Monte Carlo simulation to assess the potential health risks associated with the use of sartans. According to the obtained results, the Hazard index values were found to be less than 1 indicating that children and adult users may not be at risk of health problems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97844-0NitrosaminesRisk assessmentQuality controlPharmaceuticalGC-MS
spellingShingle Fatemeh Shomali
Zahra Talebpour
Ghazaleh Abedi
Nilufar Mousavi
Shiva Mokhtarifar
Marjan Kohandani
Vahideh Mahdavi
Noushin Adib
Analysis and risk assessment of nitrosamines in sartans using GC-MS and Monte Carlo simulation
Scientific Reports
Nitrosamines
Risk assessment
Quality control
Pharmaceutical
GC-MS
title Analysis and risk assessment of nitrosamines in sartans using GC-MS and Monte Carlo simulation
title_full Analysis and risk assessment of nitrosamines in sartans using GC-MS and Monte Carlo simulation
title_fullStr Analysis and risk assessment of nitrosamines in sartans using GC-MS and Monte Carlo simulation
title_full_unstemmed Analysis and risk assessment of nitrosamines in sartans using GC-MS and Monte Carlo simulation
title_short Analysis and risk assessment of nitrosamines in sartans using GC-MS and Monte Carlo simulation
title_sort analysis and risk assessment of nitrosamines in sartans using gc ms and monte carlo simulation
topic Nitrosamines
Risk assessment
Quality control
Pharmaceutical
GC-MS
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97844-0
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