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Title: Toxicity testing of trinitrotoluene-contaminated soil composts

Abstract

The Mutatox{trademark} assay and earthworm acute toxicity test were employed to evaluate the efficacy of composting in reducing the toxicity of TNT-contaminated soils. The Mutatox assay is a proprietary bacterial bioluminescence test that determines the mutagenic potential of sample extracts. The earthworm acute toxicity test was chosen because it exposes the organisms to the unaltered contaminant/solid matrix. Rockeye soil, a TNT-contaminated soil collected from a military installation, was composted using two methods. This yielded five samples, Rockeye, Compost A composting. Soil extracts were prepared for Mutatox using the sonification method. Ten serial dilution samples were tested soils/artificial soil were tested in the earthworm toxicity test. In the Rockeye soil samples, a toxic response was shown in both test methods. Mutatox indicated no toxicity in Composts A and B after composting but did not show a positive mutagenic response in the lower serial dilutions. The LC50s for Compost A and B after composting in the earthworm toxicity test were 35.3% and 100%, respectively. Using Mutatox and the earthworm toxicity test together provides a sensitive means of monitoring the effectiveness of various composting techniques for remediating TNT-contaminated soils.

Authors:
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. TNRCC TARA, Austin, TX (United States)
  2. USAEWES, Vicksburg, MS (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
530841
Report Number(s):
CONF-9704100-
Journal ID: EMMUEG; ISSN 0893-6692; TRN: 97:003016-0014
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 29; Journal Issue: Suppl.28; Conference: 28. annual meeting of the Environmental Mutagen Society, Minneapolis, MN (United States), 19-23 Apr 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; TOXICITY; EVALUATION; COMPOST; CONTAMINATION; TNT; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION

Citation Formats

Honeycutt, M E, McFarland, V A, and Jarvis, A S. Toxicity testing of trinitrotoluene-contaminated soil composts. United States: N. p., 1997. Web.
Honeycutt, M E, McFarland, V A, & Jarvis, A S. Toxicity testing of trinitrotoluene-contaminated soil composts. United States.
Honeycutt, M E, McFarland, V A, and Jarvis, A S. 1997. "Toxicity testing of trinitrotoluene-contaminated soil composts". United States.
@article{osti_530841,
title = {Toxicity testing of trinitrotoluene-contaminated soil composts},
author = {Honeycutt, M E and McFarland, V A and Jarvis, A S},
abstractNote = {The Mutatox{trademark} assay and earthworm acute toxicity test were employed to evaluate the efficacy of composting in reducing the toxicity of TNT-contaminated soils. The Mutatox assay is a proprietary bacterial bioluminescence test that determines the mutagenic potential of sample extracts. The earthworm acute toxicity test was chosen because it exposes the organisms to the unaltered contaminant/solid matrix. Rockeye soil, a TNT-contaminated soil collected from a military installation, was composted using two methods. This yielded five samples, Rockeye, Compost A composting. Soil extracts were prepared for Mutatox using the sonification method. Ten serial dilution samples were tested soils/artificial soil were tested in the earthworm toxicity test. In the Rockeye soil samples, a toxic response was shown in both test methods. Mutatox indicated no toxicity in Composts A and B after composting but did not show a positive mutagenic response in the lower serial dilutions. The LC50s for Compost A and B after composting in the earthworm toxicity test were 35.3% and 100%, respectively. Using Mutatox and the earthworm toxicity test together provides a sensitive means of monitoring the effectiveness of various composting techniques for remediating TNT-contaminated soils.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/530841}, journal = {Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis},
number = Suppl.28,
volume = 29,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997},
month = {Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997}
}