Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of a 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexogen contaminated soil in S. typhimurium and mammalian cells

The toxicity and mutagenicity of aqueous and organic extracts of soil contaminated with TNT, TNT metabolites and hexogen was determined in mammalian cell lines and in prokaryotic cells. The prokaryotic toxicity was determined via the colony forming ability of Salmonella typhimurium (strains TA 98 and TA 100). The same strains were used to test mutagenicity in the Ames test. The mammalian toxicity was analyzed in human fibroblasts by the inhibition of cell growth and cell viability (MTT assay). The mammalian mutagenicity was tested with the HPRT test in V79 cells (hamster lung). The aqueous soil extract did not reveal toxicity or mutagenicity in any of the tests performed. The DMSO/ethanol extract showed toxicity and mutagenicity in S. typhimurium. Thereby strain TA 98 was more sensitive than strain TA 100. In human fibroblasts cell growth was strongly inhibited, whereas no reduction of cell viability was found in the MTT test. Mutagenicity of the DMSO/ethanol extract of the soil was demonstrated in V79 cells.