Assessment of Environmental Hazards of 1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene

Abstract

The remedial investigation/feasibility studies conducted at certain Army installations showed a need to clean up contaminated sites, where high levels of ammunition chemicals such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB), 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB), and their degradation products/metabolites were detected in surface soil and groundwater. TNB is a photodegradation product of TNT; it is not easily degraded, and persists in the environment. The toxicity data on TNB are scanty. Hence the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1988 (US. EPA, 1997) developed a reference dose (RfD) for TNB (0.00005 mg/kg/d for chronic toxicity) based on the toxicity of DNB, which is structurally similar to TNB. Since then we have completed acute, subacute, subchronic, chronic, reproductive, and developmental toxicity studies and toxicokinetics studies. We have reviewed the mammalian toxicity data for TNB and have determined the no observed adverse effect levels (NOAEL) and low observed adverse effect levels (LOAEL) for subchronic, chronic, reproductive, and developmental toxicity. Based on the newly determined NOAEL and LOAEL values, we have now developed a new RfD for TNB (0.03 mg/kg/d), based on the chronic toxic effects on hematology and histopatho logical changes in testes and kidney.

Clarification of the 30 Da releases from the [M-H]−and M−•ions of trinitrotoluene by electrospray high resolution mass spectrometry

“…Indeed, nitroaromatic compounds such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and related-compounds are widely used as chemicals or synthetic intermediates in industrial manufacturing of explosives, dyes, pharmaceuticals, polyurethane foams and pesticides. [1] Considering the proven toxicity of nitroaromatic compounds on living organisms [2] and their significance in the forensic sciences, much attention has been given to these compounds. [3] Thus, nitroaromatic compounds have been extensively studied by mass spectrometry (MS) coupled with different ionization sources.…”

In Vitro Inhibition of Mammalian Glutathione Transferases by Selected Nitrobenzenes

“…Nitrobenzenes such as 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB) and different isomers of dinitrobenzene (DNB) have been detected as environmental contaminants of ground water and soil near trinitrotoluene production waste disposal sites and at military munitions test grounds (Garman, Freund, and Lawless 1987;Reddy et al 1997;Walsh and Jenkins 1992). The major uses of different isomers of nitrobenzenes include the manufacture of various dyes, plastics, and explosives.…”