Water extracts of soil samples of the former ammunition plant "Tanne" near
Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Lower Saxony, Germany, were investigated for highly p
olar oxidized 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) metabolites. 0.4 to 9.0 mg/kg dry
soil 2,4,6-trinitrobenzoic acid (TNBA) and 5.8 to 544 mg/kg dry soil 2-ami
no-4,6-dinitrobenzoic acid (2-ADNBA) were found. In addition to the oxidize
d metabolites, TNT, 4- and 2-aminodinitrotoluene (4- and 2-ADNT), and 2,4-d
initrotoluene (2,4-DNT) were extractable with water. Most interestingly, in
one sample, 2-ADNBA represented the main contaminant.
The origin of the oxidized nitroaromatics is unknown at this rime. They mig
ht be generated chemically or photochemically. Furthermore, a biological sy
nthesis seems possible.