Evaluation of Soil Toxicity at Joliet Army Ammunition Plant

Abstract

Environmental toxicity testing and chemical analyses of soil were performed as part of an ecological risk assessment at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (JAAP), Joliet, Illinois Soils were collected from an area where munitions were loaded, assembled, and packed (area L7, group I), and from an area where waste explosives were burned on unprotected soil (area L2) Control samples were collected from an adjacent field Soil toxicity was determined using early seedling growth and vigor tests, earthworm survival and growth tests, and Microtox@ assays Relative toxicity of soils was determined within each area based on statistical significance ( p = 0 05) of plant and earthworm growth and survival, and the effective concentration at which lu minescence of the bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum was reduced by 50% (EC50) in the Microtox assay Samples were designated as having high, moderate, or no significant toxicity Soil that had significant toxicity according to at least one test, and representative samples showing no toxicity, were analyzed for munitions via HPLC Chemical residues found in soils were 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5 trinitrobenzene (TNB), 2,4 dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), 2,6 dinitrotoluene, 2 amino-4,6-DNT, 4-amino-2,6 DNT, 1,3,5 trinitro 1,3,5 triazine (RDX), and octahydro-1,3,5,7 tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) All soils with no significant toxicity were void of these chemicals However, some soils void of munitions still showed toxicity that may have been caused by elevated levels of heavy metals Linear regressions of toxicity test results vs chemical concentrations showed that TNT and TNB accounted for most of the soil toxicity Lowest observable-effect concentrations (LOEC) of TNT were de termined from these data This study presents a simple, relatively inexpensive methodology for assessing toxicity of soils con taining TNT, RDX, and other contaminants related to munitions production Keywords -Ecological risk assessment ExplosivesTNT RDX

Toxicity of 2,4-dinitrotoluene to terrestrial plants in natural soils

“…1). The resulting concentrations were representative of 2,4-DNT concentrations found in contaminated soils at some former ammunition plants (Simini et al, 1995) and military training ranges Jenkins et al, 2006;Walsh et al, 2007). Concentrations after the weathering-and-aging procedure corresponded to the amount of 2,4-DNT measured in soil at the beginning of the definitive toxicity tests.…”

Role of soil interstitial water in the accumulation of hexahydro‐1,3,5‐trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazine in the earthworm Eisenia andrei

“…The RDX concentrations can range from very low levels to 3,500 mg/kg at some military firing and training sites and can reach up to 74,000 mg/kg at open burning/open detonation areas [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”

UV–VIS spectroscopy of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene-hydroxide reaction

“…TNT has been listed as a priority pollutant, a Class C carcinogen, and has adverse effects on humans, plants, and animals (Rosenblatt et al 1991;Smith 1991;Won, DiSalvo, and Ng 1976;Palazzo and Leggett 1986;Simini et al 1995). TNT remediation methods, such as incineration, composting, bioremediation, and photolysis, have been used with mixed success (Bruns-Nagel et al 1998;Dillert et al 1995;Lang et al 1998;Haselhorst 1999;Hawari et al 2000).…”