September 1996 |
ToxFAQs™ |
for |
Tetryl |
(Tetril (2,4,6-Trinitrofenil-Nmetilnitramina)) |
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This fact sheet answers the most frequently
asked health questions about tetryl. For more information,
you may call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737.
This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous
substances and their health effects. This information is important
because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure
to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration,
how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether
other chemicals are present.
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SUMMARY: Exposure to tetryl
occurs around military installations where it was made,
used, or stored. Workers who breathed tetryl-laden dust
complained of coughs, fatigue, headaches, eye irritation,
lack of appetite, nosebleeds, nausea, and vomiting. This
substance has been found in at least 12 of the 1,430 National
Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). |
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What
is tetryl? |
The chemical name for tetryl is 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-n-methylnitramine.
Some commonly used names are nitramine, tetralite, and tetril.
Tetryl is an odorless, synthetic, yellow
crystal-like solid that is not found naturally in the environment.
Under certain conditions, tetryl can exist as dust in air.
It dissolves slightly in water and in other liquids.
Tetryl was used to make explosives, mostly
during World Wars I and II. It is no longer manufactured or
used in the United States.
Stocks of tetryl are found in storage
at military installations and are being destroyed by the Department
of Defense (DOD).
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What
happens to tetryl when it enters the environment? |
- Tetryl may be released to the air, water, and soil when
old stores of the explosive are destroyed by exploding or
burning.
- It is not likely to evaporate from water or soil.
- It breaks down rapidly in sunlit rivers and lakes, but
much more slowly in groundwater.
- Tetryl does not move easily from soil to groundwater.
- It is not known if tetryl builds up in fish, plants, or
land animals.
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How
might I be exposed to tetryl? |
Most people are not exposed to tetryl
because contamination is around military installations where
it was made, used, or stored. You may be exposed by:
- Drinking contaminated well water near a military installation
site.
- Breathing contaminated dust near a military installation
site.
- Having skin contact with contaminated soil or water near
a military installation site.
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How
can tetryl affect my health? |
Workers at military facilities during
World Wars I and II who breathed tetryl-laden dust complained
of coughs, fatigue, headaches, eye irritation, lack of appetite,
nosebleeds, nausea, and vomiting.
Workers who routinely handled tetryl
developed a distinct yellow staining of the hands, neck, and
hair. Many workers who had skin contact with tetryl developed
skin rashes. Some also developed allergies with asthma-like
reactions (severe coughing and wheezing) after breathing tetryl.
Rabbits fed high doses of tetryl every
day for 6–9 months developed effects on the kidneys and liver.
Decreased blood-clotting capability and changes in the spleen
were also noted. We do not know if these effects would occur
in humans exposed to similar doses of tetryl.
We do not know if tetryl causes birth
defects, or if it affects reproduction in humans or animals.
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How
likely is tetryl to cause cancer? |
The International Agency for Research
on Cancer (IARC), the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS), and the EPA have not reviewed tetryl to determine
whether it is likely to cause cancer.
The carcinogenicity of tetryl in humans
and animals has not been studied.
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Is
there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to tetryl? |
There is no routine medical test to show
if you have been exposed to tetryl. Breakdown products of
tetryl have been measured in the urine of animals, and similar
measurements of tetryl breakdown products in the urine of
people could be completed.
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Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health? |
The Department of Transportation (DOT)
has many regulations for the transportation of explosives
including tetryl.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) set a maximum level of 1.5 milligrams of tetryl per
cubic meter of workplace air (1.5 mg/m³) for an 8-hour
workday, 40-hour workweek.
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) also recommend a maximum concentration
of 1.5 mg/m³ in workplace air for an 8- to 10-hour workday,
40-hour workweek.
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Glossary |
Breakdown product: A substance that is
formed when a chemical breaks down in the body.
Carcinogenicity: Ability to cause cancer.
CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service.
Evaporate: To change into a vapor or
a gas.
Milligram (mg): One thousandth of a gram.
Synthetic: Made by humans.
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References |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1995. Toxicological Profile for tetryl. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Public Health Service.
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Where can I get more information? |
ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational
and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize,
evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous
substances. You can also contact your community or state health
or environmental quality department if you have any more questions
or concerns. For more information, contact:
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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737)
FAX: (770)-488-4178
Email: ATSDRIC@cdc.gov
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