Sodium nitrite

Safety Summary

Regulatory Status

Sources

These citations are the ones recorded for the human adult context.

• IARC Monographs Volume 94: Ingested Nitrate and Nitrite, and Cyanobacterial Peptide Toxins — Group 2A Classification, Endogenous N-Nitrosation Mechanism, and Colorectal/Gastric Cancer Evidence (2010) ACADEMIC · 2010
• US FDA/USDA FSIS: Sodium Nitrite in Cured Meats — Maximum Use Levels (200 ppm), Antimicrobial Function, Methemoglobinemia Risk, and Ascorbic Acid Co-Addition Requirements (2022) REGULATORY · 2022
• WHO/IARC: Processed Meat — Group 1 Carcinogen for Colorectal Cancer (2015); Sodium Nitrite and N-Nitrosamine Formation as Contributing Mechanistic Pathway; Quantitative Risk Estimate (18% per 50 g/day) REGULATORY · 2015
• § 172.175 Sodium nitrite. REGULATORY
• § 424.21 Use of food ingredients and sources of radiation. REGULATORY
• § 424.22 Certain other permitted uses. REGULATORY
• identity database ECHA CHEM, Download all substances: REACH registrations (ECHA's own list of REACH-registered substances) REGULATORY · 2026
• where to look PubChem: Toxicity section (CID 23668193) PUBCHEM
• OEHHA Proposition 65 List of Carcinogens or Reproductive Toxicants (CSV, list date 31-Jul-26) REGULATORY
• where to look EPA CompTox CTX API: predicted properties for DTXSID0020941 (Sodium nitrite) REFERENCE
• ECHA Annex VI to CLP: the unofficial Excel table (up to and including the 23rd ATP) REGULATORY

Same data as the API response, which is open and needs no key. The full per-record source list is available to authenticated callers.