Dietary oral exposure to 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine in the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry 2003-02, Vol.22 (2), p.381-387
• Main Authors: Gogal Jr, Robert M., Johnson, Mark S., Larsen, Calvert T., Prater, Mary R., Duncan, Robert B., Ward, Daniel L., Lee, Robyn B., Salice, Christopher J., Jortner, Bernard, Holladay, Steven D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Aves; Biological and medical sciences; Bird; Bobwhite; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immunity; Royal demolition explosive; Toxicity
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.5620220220

The potential risk to wildlife from exposure to explosives, including 1,3,5‐trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazine (RDX), has been an issue at numerous U.S. military installations where these substances are found in soil and water. Presently, no data describing the effects of RDX exposure in avian species exist. Therefore, an acute lethal dose (ALD) and 14‐ and 90‐d subchronic dietary exposures to RDX were evaluated in a species potentially present at many contaminated sites, i.e., the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). The ALDs for females and males were 187 and 280 mg/kg, respectively. Data from the 14‐d dietary trial suggested that RDX exposure inhibited food consumption, weight gain, and egg production. Dietary RDX exposure for 90‐d produced a dose‐dependant decreasing trend in total feed consumption, total egg production, and hen‐housed production parameters. These collective data suggest that quail may respond differently to oral RDX exposure compared with mammals.