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657861 
Book/Book Chapter 
2,4,6-trinitrotoluene 
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists :: ACGIH 
1997 
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists 
Cincinnati, OH 
Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices 
III 
T1-T4 
has other version or edition 4286493 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene
TLV Recommendation
Exposure to TNT can induce hepatotoxicity and aplastic anemia(3,14,15) Skin irritation and percutaneous absorption of sufficient quantities of TNT to induce systemic poisoning have also been reported(16,17) Altered liver parameters were seen in workers exposed at 0.3 to
0.8 mg/m3/19* and changes in hematologic parameters were seen in workers exposed at 0.05to7.5 mg/m3 for 1 to 2 years(22) Therefore, a TLV-TWA of 0.1 mg/m3, with a skin notation, is recommended for TNT. This level incorporates a margin of safety to protect a significant portion of healthy workers whose response may be influenced by factors apart from their TNT exposures, including genetic deficiencies contributing to acute intravascular hemolysis. Anecdotal reports of cardiovascular effects of TNT and the potential for liver cancer by analogy to dinitrotoluene are of concern to the TLV Committee, but no data are available to assess these concerns. The skin notation for TNT should be emphasized since skin absorption is an important route of industrial exposure(28) At this time, no STEL is recommended until additional toxicological data and industrial hygiene experience become available to provide a better base for quantifying on a toxicological basis what the STEL should be. The reader is encouraged to review the section on Excursion Limits in the "Introduction to the Chemical Substances" of the current TLV/BEI Booklet for guidance and control of excursions above the TLV-TWA, even when the 8-hour TWA is within the recommended limits.
TNT is a substance for which Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) have been established. See the BEI documentation for Methemoglobin Inducers. 
Sixth