Abstract
N-nitrosamines including N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) are known as disinfection byproducts, and suspected human carcinogen; however, the knowledge about their behavior and fate in soils is limited. In this study, biodegradation, adsorption and desorption of NDMA, NMOR, and their precursors by soils were evaluated, by shaking water samples with soil samples in aerobic condition. NDMA, NMOR, and their precursors were desorbed from soils. NDMA was easily degraded by the microorganisms in soils, while NMOR was persistent. NDMA and NMOR were not adsorbed onto soils. The precursors of NDMA were partly removed by soils owing to degradation and/or adsorption, but some parts of them persistently remained in water samples.
