title: Ecotoxicological assessment of a high energetic and insensitive munitions compound: 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN).
abstract: The high explosive nitroaromatic 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) is less shock sensitive than 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), and is proposed as a TNT replacement for melt-cast formulations. Before using DNAN in munitions and potentially leading to environmental impact, the present study examines the ecotoxicity of DNAN using selected organisms. In water, DNAN decreased green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata growth (EC50 = 4.0mg/L), and bacteria Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence (Microtox, EC50 = 60.3mg/L). In soil, DNAN decreased perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne growth (EC50 =7 mg/kg), and is lethal to earthworms Eisenia andrei (LC50 = 47 mg/kg). At sub-lethal concentrations, DNAN caused an avoidance response (EC50 = 31 mg/kg) by earthworms. The presence of DNAN and 2-amino-4-nitroanisole in earthworms and plants suggested a role of these compounds in DNAN toxicity. Toxicity of DNAN was compared to TNT, tested under the same experimental conditions. These analyses showed that DNAN was equally, or even less deleterious to organism health than TNT, depending on the species and toxicity test. The present studies provide baseline toxicity data to increase the understanding of the environmental impact of DNAN, and assist science-based decision makers for improved management of potential DNAN contaminated sites.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council - Canada, Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada.
authors.forename: Sabine G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Dodard
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarrazin
authors.forename: Jalal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hawari
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paquet
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ampleman
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiboutot
authors.forename: Geoffrey I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Sunahara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D053834:Explosive Agents; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000840:Anisoles; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D053834:Explosive Agents; D014303:Trinitrotoluene; C539360:2,4-dinitroanisole
keywords: 2,4-Dinitroanisole; Ecotoxicity; Environmental risk assessment; Explosives; Microtox