Nitrates: laboratory evidence.
Neither nitrate nor nitrite per se has been demonstrated to produce cancer in experimental animals. The potential carcinogenicity of either of these substances would appear to derive from their involvement in the production of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds. The extent to which such compounds form has been the subject of numerous studies.
D000818:Animals; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000633:toxicity*
D009566:Nitrates