Toxicity of a New Polynitramine Energetic Material, CL-20, to the Enchytraeid Worm, Enchytraeus Crypticus, in a Sandy Loam Soil

Abstract : In this report, the toxicity of polynitramine energetic material, hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20), to the soil invertebrate species, Enchytraeus crypticus, was investigated using the Enchytraeid Reproduction Test. The study was designed to develop eco-toxicological benchmark values for the ecological risk assessment of the potential impacts of the accidental release of this compound into the environment. Tests were conducted in Sassafras Sandy Loam soil, which supports the relatively high bio-availability of CL-20. Weathering and aging procedures for CL-20 amended into test soil were incorporated into the study design to produce toxicity data that better reflect soil exposure conditions in the field. Results showed that toxicities for E. crypticus adult survival and juvenile production were significantly increased in weathered and aged treatments compared with toxicity in freshly amended soil, based on 95% confidence intervals. These findings of increased toxicity to E. crypticus in weathered and aged CL-20 treatments show that future investigations should include a weathering and aging component to generate toxicity data that provide more complete information on the eco-toxicological effects of emerging energetic contaminants in soil.