Lack of an indication of mutagenic effects of dinitrotoluenes and diaminotoluenes in mice.

The mutagenic effects of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), purified and technical grades, 3,5-DNT, 2,4-diaminotoluene (2,4-DAT), and 2,5-DAT were tested in mice using one or more of the following: the dominant lethal assay, the sperm morphology test and/or the recessive spot test. Compounds were administered by both intraperitoneal (IP) injection and gavage, and comparisons were made between controls and treated groups as well as between routes of administration. None of the five compounds tested produced a significant response in any of the systems employed. Treatment with purified 2,4-DNT and 3,5-DNT resulted in marked reductions in the percent of fertile matings. These data indicate a lack of mutagenicity of these compounds in the test systems employed here. The observed fertility effects are consistent with previously published data on DNT-induced testicular damage.