ARS | Publication request: Distribution and residues of orally administered 2,4,6-trinitro[14C]toluene in ruminating sheep.

Submitted to: American Chemical Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 30, 2007
Publication Date: August 19, 2007
Citation: Smith, D.J., Craig, A.M., Duringer, J., Chaney, R.L. 2007. Distribution and residues of orally administered 2,4,6-trinitro[14C]toluene in ruminating sheep. Meeting Abstract. 234th meeting of the American Chemical Society, Aug. 19-23, 2007, Boston, MA.

Technical Abstract: 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a persistent contaminant of some military and industrial soils. The purpose of this study was to determine the fate of 14C-TNT in ruminating sheep. Animals were dosed with 35.5 mg each of dietary unlabelled TNT for 21 consecutive d. On d 22 sheep were orally dosed with 35.5 mg of U-ring labeled [14C]TNT (129 'Ci; 99.1% purity). Blood was serially collected; urine, feces, and tissues were quantitatively collected. Plasma radioactivity peaked within 1 h of dosing and was essentially depleted within 18 h. Approximately 76% of the radiocarbon was excreted in feces, 17% in urine, with 5% being retained in the gastrointestinal tract and 1% retained in tissues. Parent TNT, dinitroamino metabolites, and diaminonitro metabolites were not detected in excreta. Ruminal and fecal radioactivity was essentially non-extractable using ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol. Ruminants may offer an economical means for bioremediation of TNT contaminated soils.