Water quality criteria for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT): Final report
Studies of the acute toxicity of TNT to aquatic organisms indicate that LC/sub 50/ values range from 5.2 to 27.0 mg/L for invertebrates in 48-hr static tests, and from 2.0 to 3.7 mg/L for fish in 96-hr flow-through tests. TNT is absorbed by both humans and test animals through the skin, by ingestion, and by inhalation. Following oral absorption, /sup 14/C-TNT is found at highest levels in the GI tract, liver, kidneys, and blood. The liver is the site for metabolic and detoxification activity. The primary effects of occupational exposure to TNT are jaundice with toxic hepatic and/or aplastic anemia that can be fetal. Significant effects on the hematological system occurred at mean exposure levels of 0.2 to 7.5 mg/m/sup 3/. Evaluations of oral TNT toxicity were reported for 90-day exposures of dogs, mice, and rats. The effects for all three species were similar and included depressed weight gain, mild to moderate anemia, enlarged livers and spleens, some testicular atrophy, and hemosiderosis of the spleen. Carcinogenicity data were limited to a 2-yr study of rats which indicated hyperplasia and carcinoma of the urinary bladder in females at the highest dose (50 mg/kg/day). Standards for TNT occupational exposures have been recommended by OSHA (TLV of 1.5 mg/m/sup 3/), US Army (0.5 mg/m/sup 3/), and ACGIH (TLV of 0.5 mg/m/sup 3/ and STEL of 0.3 mg/m/sup 3/). Drinking water limits of 0.03 to 0.05 mg/L were recommended by the US Army and Navy. Available data for calculating water quality criteria were insufficient to meet all the USEPA guideline requirements. However, a reasonable estimate of the criterion maximum concentration is 557 ..mu..g/L. 54 refs., 3 figs., 31 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 5477401
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL-6304; ON: DE88002474
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOGS
DOSES
DRINKING WATER
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EVALUATION
EXPLOSIVES
FISHES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INGESTION
INTAKE
INVERTEBRATES
LARVAE
LETHAL DOSES
MAMMALS
MAN
MICE
NITRO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRIMATES
PROGRESS REPORT
RATS
REVIEWS
RODENTS
STANDARDS
TNT
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WATER
WATER QUALITY