An important observation made by Larionovi [128] was that TNT, present
in waste waters in a concentration of 25-80 mg/l., lowered the oxygen con-
sumption of bacteria by 5-30% possibly because it inhibited their activity. In
addition, TNT has been found toxic to some seaweeds and to fish.
According to Kratz [129], 1 mg of TNT in 1 l. of water kills fish. Seifert [130]
reported that the lethal dose for fish was 2 mg of TNT in 1 1. of water, while a con-
centration of 0.15 mg TNT/l. might be lethal to plankton which form the principal
nourishment for fish. For this reason the problem of decontamination of waste
water from TNT manufacture is of primary importance (see further, p. 390).Metabolism of trinitrotoluene...........................
Detailed studies on the metabolism of trinitrotoluene in the human body and in
animals were carried out during World Wars I and II. They have since been published.
Voegtlin, Hooper and Johnson [131] reported that trinitrotoluene was reduced
to dinitrotoluidine of an unknown structure, and to tetranitroazoxytoluene, the
constitution of which was given later by Dale [132] :This compound can be found in urine.
Extensive studies on the metabolism of α− trinitrotoluene in man and animals
have been published by Channon, Mills and R. T. Williams [133]. The authors
were able to prove that tetranitroazoxytoluene was not present in fresh urine, but
was found as a product of an in vitro reaction between various products of metab
olism.
The following amines and hydroxylamines were isolated from the urine of
animals receiving TNT :
II III IVThe azoxy compound is presumably formed during the oxidation of product II.
In addition, oxidation products and oxidation-reduction products are formed: