Effect of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and its metabolites on human monocytes

A lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) assay was developed in which p rimary human monocytes were used as test cells. 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and a number of its metabolites were subjected to this test system. A dose -dependent inhibition of CL was observed for most compounds. The following EC50 values were determined: TNT = 8 mu g/ml; 2,4-DANT = 5 mu g/ml; 4-ADNT = 38 mu g/ml; 2-ADNT = >50 mu g/mL; 4-acetyl-2,6-DNT 50 mu g/mL, and 2-acet yl-4,6-DNT = >50 mu g/mL. The CL assay was also ap plied to aqueous extra c ts of TNT-contaminated soil before and after bioremediation and to soil ext racts free of any nitroaromatics. Extra cts of non-contaminated soil reduce d the CL by about 60%, whereas an extract of contaminated soil was 100% sup pressive. Leachates of bioremediated soil caused a similar response as comp ost free of any nitroaromatics. The results demonstrate the usefulness of a primary human monocyte culture system for testing environmentally toxic co mpounds.