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Responses of Oral 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) Exposure to the Common Pigeon (Columba livia): A Phylogenic and Methodological Comparison

Considerable concentrations of the explosive, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) have been found in the soil at many installations where explosives have been used, manufactured, assembled, or destroyed. To evaluate risk to avian receptors, measures of exposure are compared with a threshold level of sublethal toxicity. To date, a single feeding study has evaluated the responses of oral TNT exposure to birds with equivocal results regarding sublethal effects. The present study followed a controlled dosing regime comprising four dose groups and a control (200, 120, 70, 20, and 0 mg TNT/kg body weight [bw]-day) in the common pigeon (Columba livia) for 60 days. Overt signs of toxicity occurred with both sexes between 2 and 3 weeks of exposure. Signs included weight loss, neuromuscular effects (e.g., ataxia, tremors, etc.), and scant red feces (chromaturia). Emetic events following dosing were common and proportional to dose; however, attempts to quantify vomitus compound concentration suggests that birds were marginally successful at removing TNT following administration. Eight of 12 and 2 of 12 males and females died or were moribund in the 200 and 120 mg/kg-day groups, respectively. Changes in hematological parameters, liver, kidney, and ovary weights were related to treatment. Dose-related changes in plasma albumin and sodium concentrations were also observed. These results suggest that subchronic exposure to TNT can adversely affect the central nervous system and hematological parameters in birds. Chemical analysis of blood detected concentrations of the two primary reduction metabolites, but not parent compound, suggesting that toxicity may be due to the bioaccumulation of a toxic intermediate.