Chemical and toxicological testing of composted explosives‐contaminated soil

Abstract

Static‐pile and mechanically stirred composts of explosives‐contaminated soil at the Umatilla Army Depot Activity (UMDA, Umatilla, OR) in a field composting optimization study were characterized chemically and toxicologically. The concentrations of extractable explosives (e.g., 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene) in the composts and their aqueous leachates, the mutagenicity of organic solvent extracts from the composts, and the toxicity of compost aqueous leachates to Ceriodaphnia dubia all decreased considerably with 20 d of composting. After 44 d (mechanical composters) or 90 d (static piles) of composting, the toxicity, mutagenicity, and concentrations of extractable explosives decreased more than 90% in some cases. The composting efficiency was generally inversely proportional to the percentage (v/v) of contaminated soil. Composting in static piles was efficient up to about 20% (v/v) of contaminated soil; composting in the mechanically stirred composters was efficient up to about 25% soil. Mechanical composting was more efficient than composting in static piles. The main conclusion of this study is that composting can effectively remediate explosives‐contaminated soil and sediment. However, low levels of explosives and metabolites, bacterial mutagenicity, and leachable toxicity to Ceriodaphnia may remain after composting. The sources of residual toxicity and mutagenicity and the ultimate fate of the explosives are unknown.

Management of antibiotic residues from agricultural sources: Use of composting to reduce chlortetracycline residues in beef manure from treated animals

“…Manure composting is a well-described approach for stabilization of nutrients and reduction of pathogens and odors [15]. In addition, composting has been shown to be effective in reducing relatively persistent organic compounds such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) [16,17], chlorophenol [18] 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene [19,20], diazinon [21], pyrene and simazine [22], 17␤-estradiol and testosterone [23]. Our recent study has also shown that composting is also an effective treatment for reducing oxytetracycline (OTC) levels in manure [24].…”

Development of a Soil Extraction Procedure for Ecotoxicity Characterization of Energetic Compounds

“…The potentially hazardous environmental effects of TNT and its metabolites have been studied using pure compounds in solution and in spiked soils, as well as in soils taken from contaminated sites containing a mixture of these substances (Smock et al, 1976;Parmelee et al, 1993;Simini et al, 1995;Griest et al, 1993Griest et al, , 1995Thiboutot et al, 1997). In fact, certain ammunition production plants and Army installations can often contain TNT, a variety of TNT metabolites (including diamino-nitrotoluenes and monoamino-nitrotoluenes), other nitroaromatics (such as 2,4dinitrotoluene, DNT; 2-amino-6-nitrotoluene, 2A-6NT; 2amino-4-nitrotoluene, 2A-4NT; 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, TNB), and nitroheterocyclics such as RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane) and HMX (1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazacyclo-octane), as well as other environmental contaminants such as heavy metals (Griest et al, 1993;Simini et al, 1995).…”

Cyclodextrin-Enhanced Extraction and Removal of 2,4-Dinitrotoluene from Contaminated Soils

“…C ONTAMINATION OF SOIL and groundwater by munitions wastes and energetic compounds are of environmental concern due to the toxicity exhibited by compounds such as 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) (Griest et al, 1993;Simini et al, 1995). Surface and subsurface soils have been contaminated with releases from munitions manufacturing facilities (e.g., munitions wastewaters), spills, and military field operations (Pennington and Patrick, 1990;Haderlein et al, 1996;Hundal et al, 1997;Sheramata et al, 1999).…”