Dinitrotoluene, all isomers

Synonyms

Benzene, methyldinitro-; Binitrotoluene; DNT; Dinitrophenylmethane; Dinitrotoluene; Dinitrotoluene,technical; Dinitrotoluol; Methyldinitrobenzene; Toluene, ar,ar-dinitro-; [ChemIDplus] UN1600; UN2038

Category

Nitros, Aromatic

Description

Orange-yellow crystalline solid with a characteristic odor; Note: Often shipped molten; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used in the synthesis of toluene diisocyanate and toluenediamine; 2,4-DNT is used to make dyes and military explosives; [ACGIH]

Comments

Like nitrobenzene and dinitrobenzene, DNT can cause methemoglobinemia. DNT is hepatotoxic in feeding studies of rats. High-dose feeding induces testicular atrophy in mice, rats, and dogs, but the effect was not been confirmed in studies of workers exposed to DNT. Two cohorts of workers exposed during the 1950s and 1960s were found to have increased risk for ischemic heart disease. A larger, additional study did not find any increased risk for exposed munition workers. Listed in the table "Examples of Industrial Chemicals for Which Methemoglobin Formation is NOT the Principal Cause of Toxicity"; [ACGIH] 2,4-Dinitrotoluene and 2,6-dinitrotoluene are classified by IARC as possible human carcinogens. For 3,5-dinitrotoluene the evidence of carcinogenicity is inadequate.

Biomedical References

Methemoglobin in blood = 1.5% of hemoglobin during or at end of shift. [ACGIH]

Yes

0.2 mg/m3

1.5 mg/m3

50 mg/m3

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: Because no data on acute inhalation toxicity are available concerning the physiological response to dinitrotoluene, the chosen IDLH has been estimated from the oral cat minimal lethal dose of 27 mg/kg [White and Hay 1901 and Kuhls 1905 cited by Spector 1956]. . . . Human data: It has been reported that the toxic effects of dinitrotoluene are similar in character to those of other aromatic nitro compounds, such as dinitrobenzene [ACGIH 1991].

0.0004 mm Hg

Explanatory Notes

Flash point = 207 deg C; VP from HSDB;

Reference Link #2

must be preheated

MetHgb is secondary toxic effect

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Confirmed Animal

Other Information

No other related information on this agent was found.