Toxicity Profiles

RAGs A Format for 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene - CAS Number 118967

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a manmade, yellow crystalline solid used as a high explosive in military armaments and as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of dyestuffs and photographic chemicals. TNT production in the United States occurs solely at military arsenals.

TNT is absorbed through the digestive tract, skin, and lungs. Workers involved in the production of explosives that were exposed to high concentrations of TNT in air experienced several harmful health effects, including anemia and abnormal liver function. Similar blood and liver effects, as well as spleen enlargement and other harmful effects on the immune system, have been observed in animals that ate or breathed TNT. Other effects in humans include skin irritation after prolonged skin contact and cataract development after long-term (365 days or longer) exposure. It is not known whether TNT can cause birth defects in humans. However, male animals treated with high doses of TNT have developed serious reproductive system effects.

No epidemiological evidence is available showing an association between chronic TNT exposure and tumorigenicity in humans. In animal carcinogenicity studies, a significant increase in urinary bladder papillomas and carcinomas was seen in rats. TNT is classified in weight-of-evidence Group C, possible human carcinogen.

The following is a presentation of the toxicity information associated with 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene.

• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is 5.00E-04 (mg/kg-day).
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has a modifying factor of 1.
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has an uncertainty factor of 1000.
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is based on the U.S. DoD study from 1983.
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose study target organ is liver.
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose study critical effect is effects.
• The overall confidence in the Oral Chronic Reference Dose is medium.

• The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is 3.00E-04 (mg/kg-day).
• The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is based on a gastrointestinal absorption factor of 0.6000.

• The Oral Slope Factor is 3.00E-02 (mg/kg-day)^-1.
• The Oral Slope Factor study target organ is bladder.
• The Oral Slope Factor study cancer type is tumors.
• The Oral Slope Factor is based on the U.S. DoD study from 1984.

• The Dermal Slope Factor is 5.00E-02 (mg/kg-day)^-1.
• The Dermal Slope Factor is based on a gastrointestinal absorption factor of 0.6000.