Assessing TNT Toxicity on Soils With Contrasting Characteristics Using Soil Invertebrate Toxicity Tests
Abstract
We investigated the toxicity of 2,4,6- trinitrotoluene (TNT) to earthworm (Eisenia fetida), potworm (Enchytraeus crypticus), and springtail (Folsomia candida) in five natural soils: Sassafras sandy loam (SSL), Teller sandy loam (TSL), Richfield clay loam (RCL), Kirkland clay loam (KCL), and Webster clay loam (WCL). According to Ecological Soil Screening Level (Eco-SSL) criteria (USEPA 2003), relative bioavailability scores for organic chemicals in these soils were rated "high" for SSL and TSL, "medium" for RCL and KCL, and "low" for WCL soil. We adapted standardized toxicity tests using soils that were either freshly amended (24 h) or subjected to wetting/drying cycles (10-14 weeks) after amendment to determine the effect of weathering/aging on TNT toxicity. We used nonlinear regression models to determine the EC20 and EC50 TNT concentrations for reproduction endpoints. Initial results for freshly amended soils showed that TNT toxicity to juvenile production of both E. fetida and E. crypticus was TSL > SSL > RCL > KCL > WCL. TNT toxicity to juvenile production of F.candida was TSL > SSL > KCL > RCL > WCL in freshly amended soils. TNT in WCL, with "low" relative bioavailability, was least toxic of the five soils tested. Toxicity benchmarks derived in these studies will be submitted to the Eco-SSL Task Group for use in developing an Eco-SSL for soil invertebrates and TNT; results of these studies will undergo quality assurance before inclusion in the national Eco-SSL database.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA433147
Entities
People
- Carl W. Kurnas
- Carlton T. Phillips
- Jan E. Kolakowski
- Michael Simini
- Roman G Kuperman
- Ronald T. Checkai
Organizations
- Edgewood Chemical Biological Center