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Identification of oxidized TNT metabolites in soil samples of a former ammunition plant

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Immunology and Environmental Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Pilgrimstein 2, D-35037, Marburg, Germany

    Dirk Bruns-Nagel, Oliver Drzyzga & Eberhard v. Löw

  2. EAWAG Department of Chemistry, Überlandstraße 133, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Torsten C. Schmidt

  3. Department of Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße, D-35032, Marburg, Germany

    Klaus Steinbach

Authors
  1. Dirk Bruns-Nagel
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  2. Torsten C. Schmidt
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  3. Oliver Drzyzga
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  4. Eberhard v. Löw
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  5. Klaus Steinbach
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Correspondence to Dirk Bruns-Nagel.

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Bruns-Nagel, D., Schmidt, T.C., Drzyzga, O. et al. Identification of oxidized TNT metabolites in soil samples of a former ammunition plant. Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res 6, 7–10 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02987113

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02987113

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