Water quality criteria for hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)

Journal Article · Fri Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1989 · Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-2300(89)90032-9· OSTI ID:6081903

Etnier, E L

The occurrence of the munitions compound hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) in groundwater surrounding Army ammunition plants may result in contamination of local drinking water supplies. RDX exerts its primary toxic effect in humans on the central nervous system, but also involves gastrointestinal and renal effects. Symptomatic effects following acute exposure include hyperirritability, nausea, vomiting, generalized epileptiform seizures, and prolonged postictal confusion and amnesia. Health effects data were analyzed for RDX, and although no controlled human studies exist concerning the acute or chronic toxic effects of exposure to RDX, sufficient animal toxicity data are available to derive an ambient water quality criterion for the protection of human health. This paper summarizes the available literature on metabolism of RDX and human and animal toxicity. Based on noncarcinogenic mammalian toxicity data, and following the methodologies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an ambient water quality criterion for the protection of human health of 103 micrograms/liter is proposed for ingestion of drinking water and aquatic foodstuffs. A criterion of 105 micrograms/liter is proposed for ingestion of drinking water alone.54 references.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6081903
• Journal Information: Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol.; (United States), Journal Name: Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol.; (United States) Vol. 9:2; ISSN RTOPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
520600* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Regulations -- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AZINES
CONTAMINATION
DOCUMENT TYPES
DRINKING WATER
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GROUND WATER
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MAN
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
METABOLISM
NERVE CELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
REVIEWS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SOMATIC CELLS
SPECIFICITY
STANDARDS
SYMPTOMS
TOXICITY
TRIAZINES
VERTEBRATES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY