Levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine in nitrogen fertilizers/herbicide mixtures containing 2,4-D present as dimethylamine salt

Abstract

The nitrogen content of solid or liquid fertilizers may be present as free ammonia (in liquid fertilizer only), ammonium nitrate or urea. It is suspected that ammonium nitrate may contain nitrite as s trace impurity. In Canada, mixtures of fertilizer and herbicide are commercially available and generally known as "weed and feed" products. Three of the many herbicides used to formulate these products are 2,4-D, mecoprop and dicamba all of which are present as the corresponding dimethylamine (DMA) salts.