title: Identification of oxidized TNT metabolites in soil samples of a former ammunition plant.
abstract: Water extracts of soil samples of the former ammunition plant "Tanne" near Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Lower Saxony, Germany, were investigated for highly polar oxidized 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) metabolites. 0.4 to 9.0 mg/kg dry soil 2,4,6-trinitrobenzoic acid (TNBA) and 5.8 to 544 mg/kg dry soil 2-amino-4,6-dinitrobenzoic acid (2-ADNBA) were found. In addition to the oxidized metabolites, TNT, 4- and 2-aminodinitrotoluene (4- and 2-ADNT), and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) were extractable with water. Most interestingly, in one sample, 2-ADNBA represented the main contaminant. The origin of the oxidized nitroaromatics is unknown at this time. They might be generated chemically or photochemically. Furthermore, a biological synthesis seems possible.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Environmental Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Pilgrimstein 2, D-35037, Marburg, Germany. brunsnag@mailer.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bruns-Nagel
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Drzyzga
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: von Löw
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steinbach