Activity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in an in vitro mammalian gene mutation assay

In the present study both 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and pure 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) gave positive responses in the P388 mouse lymphoma gene mutation assay in the absence of auxiliary metabolic activation. Both chemicals gave negative results when an activation system was included. Technical grade DNT (consisting of an 80:20 mixture of 2,4- and 2,6-DNT) and pure 2,6-DNT gave negative responses in the assay both in the presence and absence of auxiliary metabolism. These observations in mammalian cells support the bacterial mutagenesis data indicating the TNT is a potential rodent liver carcinogen and suggest that the activity of TNT should be investigated in vivo to assess whether its potential hepatocarcinogenicity is realised in rats.