Effects of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in a holistic environmental exposure regime on a terrestrial salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a defense-related environmental contaminant present at high concentrations in soil at some military installations. Tige r salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum, family Ambystomatidae) were exposed to T NT in a soil matrix and fed earth worms that had also been exposed to TNT v ia contaminated soil. Such exposure was previously shown to result in signi ficant accumulation of both TNT and TNT metabolites by salamanders. Followi ng 14 days of combined oral and dermal exposures, salamanders were evaluate d for signs of toxicity. Control and TNT-exposed salamanders gained weight (p < 0.025). In addition, organ to body weight ratios (kidney, liver, and s pleen) were not affected by treatment. The function of splenic phagocytic c ells was evaluated because these cells are sensitive to certain environment al chemical exposures. Neither the chemiluminescence response (H2O2, produc tion) nor the phagocytic capacity of such cells were different between cont rols and treatment groups. In like manner, no changes were seen in the peri pheral hematologic parameters investigated. Histopathologic evaluations wer e inconclusive, yet the liver revealed the presence of heavily pigmented ir on-rich phagocytes (melanomacrophages). This investigation presents a reali stic approach and preliminary data for investigating the effects of xenobio tic exposure in a soil matrix on a terrestrial vertebrate.