Invitro cytotoxicity of certain munition nitroaromatic compounds

Abstract Neutral red (NR) uptake assays in the rat liver hepatoma H4IIE cell line were employed to compare the cytotoxicities of the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, four of the principal nitroaromatic pollutants associated with its manufacture, and monoamines with the potential to be formed from the compounds in the environment. The assay system was responsive to all munition associated compounds tested and their corresponding amines. The order of cytotoxicity for the nitroaromatic compounds in vitro was 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene>2,4,6-trinitrotoluene>1,3-dinitrobenzene≥2,4- and 2,6-dinitrotoluenes and was in general agreement with that of other systems used for munition toxicity screening. Most of the amino nitroaromatic compounds were similar to each other in their cytotoxic potency, and most were less toxic than their nitroaromatic analogues.