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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

1,3-DINITROBENZENE AND 

1,3,5-TRINITROBENZENE 

CAS#: 1,3-Dinitrobenzene 99-65-0 

 1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene 99-35-4 

Division of Toxicology June 1995 

This Public Health Statement is the summary 

chapter from the Toxicological Profile for 1,3­

dinitrobenzene and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene. It is one 

in a series of Public Health Statements about 

hazardous substances and their health effects. A 

shorter version, the ToxFAQsTM is also available. 

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. For 

more information, call the ATSDR Information 

Center at 1-888-422-8737. 

This statement was prepared to give you 

information about 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB) 

and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (1,3,5-TNB) and to 

emphasize the human health effects that may result 

from exposure to them. The Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) has identified 1,397 waste 

sites as the most serious in the nation. These sites 

make up the National Priorities List (NPL) and are 

the sites targeted for long-term federal clean-up 

activities. 1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB have been found 

in at least 19 of the sites on the NPL. However, the 

number of NPL sites evaluated for 1,3-DNB and 

1,3,5-TNB is not known. As EPA evaluates more 

sites, the number of sites at which 1,3-DNB and 

1,3,5-TNB are found may increase. This 

information is important because exposure to 1,3­

DNB and 1,3,5-TNB may cause harmful health 

effects and because these sites are potential or 

actual sources of human exposure to 1,3-DNB and 

1,3,5-TNB. 

When a chemical is released from a large area, such 

as an industrial plant, or from a container, such as a 

drum or bottle, it enters the environment as a 

chemical emission. This emission, which is also 

called a release, does not always lead to exposure. 

You can be exposed to a chemical only when you 

come into contact with the chemical. You may be 

exposed to it in the environment by breathing, 

eating, or drinking substances containing the 

chemical or from skin contact with it. 

If you are exposed to a hazardous chemical such as 

1,3-DNB or 1,3,5-TNB, several factors will 

determine whether harmful health effects will occur 

and what the type and severity of those health 

effects will be. These factors include the dose (how 

much), the duration (how long), the route or 

pathway by which you are exposed (breathing, 

eating, drinking, or skin contact), the other 

chemicals to which you are exposed, and your 

individual characteristics such as age, sex, 

nutritional status, family traits, lifestyle, and state of 

health. 

1.1 WHAT ARE 1,3-DINITROBENZENE AND 

1,3,5-TRINITROBENZENE? 

1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB are synthetic substances 

that are used in explosives. In making 1,3,5-TNB, 

1,3-DNB is often made first. Both 1,3-DNB and 

1,3,5-TNB are formed as by-products when another 

explosive, trinitrotoluene (TNT), is made. 1,3-DNB 

is also used to make certain dyes, as an intermediate 

in the synthesis of organic chemicals, and in the 

plastics manufacturing industry. 1,3,5-TNB is used 

in making rubber. Other names for 1,3-DNB 

include m-dinitrobenzene, 1,3-dinitrobenzol, 2,4­

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

1,3-DINITROBENZENE AND 

1,3,5-TRINITROBENZENE 

CAS#: 1,3-Dinitrobenzene 99-65-0 

 1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene 99-35-4 

Division of Toxicology June 1995 

dinitrobenzene, dinitrobenzene, and m-DNB. Other 

names for 1,3,5-TNB include benzite, strinitrobenzene, sym-trinitrobenzene, symmetric 

trinitrobenzene, syn-trinitrobenzene, and TNB. Both 

1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB are yellow, crystal-like 

solids at room temperature. They may exist in the 

air in very small amounts as a dust or a vapor and 

can dissolve in certain liquids. If either compound is 

put under very high heat, it will explode. These 

compounds have no odor or taste. 

In this profile, 1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB are 

discussed together because they have very similar 

structures. Since the two compounds are similar in 

structure, their toxic effects may not be very 

different. 

1.2 WHAT HAPPENS TO 1,3-

DINITROBENZENE AND 1,3,5-

TRINITROBENZENE WHEN THEY 

ENTER THE ENVIRONMENT? 

Waste discharges from Army ammunition plants or 

other chemical manufacturers are the primary 

sources for the releases of both compounds to air, 

water, and soil. They can also enter the environment 

from their use as explosives and from spills or 

improper disposal. It is unlikely that either 

compound would normally be found in the air. 

However, under some industrial use conditions, 

some 1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB may enter the air in 

the form of dust. We have very little information 

about what happens to 1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB in 

the air. The small amounts of 1,3,5-TNB that may 

enter the air are likely to break down very slowly. It 

might persist for many years in the air. 1,3-DNB is 

also likely to break down in the air; however, we do 

not know how long this would take. Both 

compounds are slightly soluble in water. 1,3-DNB 

evaporates slowly from water; 1,3,5-TNB does not 

evaporate from water. Neither compound sticks 

strongly to soil; therefore, both can move through 

soil into groundwater. 1,3-DNB breaks down slowly 

in water and soil. It stays for days to months in 

water. Although 1,3,5-TNB probably breaks down 

in water and soil, we do not know how long this 

takes. Neither compound is likely to build up in fish 

or humans. 

1.3 HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO 1,3-

DINITROBENZENE AND 1,3,5-

TRINITROBENZENE? 

Most of the population will not be exposed to 1,3­

DNB or 1,3,5-TNB. If you live or work near an 

Army ammunition plant or other chemical 

manufacturer, you may be exposed to these 

compounds by contaminated drinking water, food, 

air, or soil. At this time, it is not known how much 

of these compounds you might consume or how 

much might be in the air. We also do not know how 

many workers are exposed to the compounds. Both 

1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB have been found in water 

and soil at some Army ammunition plants. 

Groundwater samples had levels of 1,3-DNB 

ranging from 0.0012 to 0.195 parts per one million 

parts of water (ppm). 1,3-DNB was present at 

higher levels in soil, with concentrations ranging 

from 0.77 to 1.5 ppm. 1,3,5-TNB was also present 

in groundwater samples at concentrations up to 8 

ppm. 1,3,5-TNB was present at higher levels in soil, 

with concentrations ranging from 368 to 3,920 ppm. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

1,3-DINITROBENZENE AND 

1,3,5-TRINITROBENZENE 

CAS#: 1,3-Dinitrobenzene 99-65-0 

 1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene 99-35-4 

Division of Toxicology June 1995 

1.4 HOW CAN 1,3-DINITROBENZENE AND 

1,3,5-TRINITROBENZENE ENTER AND 

LEAVE MY BODY? 

1,3-DNB can enter your bloodstream if you breathe 

it in the air or get it on your skin. There is no 

information on how 1,3,5-TNB can enter or exit 

your body. Exposure of the general population to 

1,3-DNB or 1,3,5-TNB is not likely, so most people 

exposed to 1,3-DNB have come in contact with it in 

their work place. Results of studies in people and 

animals show that 1,3-DNB enters the body very 

quickly through the skin or lungs. Once 1,3-DNB is 

inside your body, it breaks down quickly. 1,3-DNB 

and its related breakdown products also exit the 

body very quickly in the urine. Some breakdown 

products of 1,3-DNB may also leave in the feces. 

Results of studies in people and animals show that 

most of the 1,3-DNB exits the body within 2 to 3 

weeks after exposure. 

1.5 HOW CAN 1,3-DINITROBENZENE AND 

1,3,5-TRINITROBENZENE AFFECT MY 

HEALTH? 

1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB are suspected to cause 

similar health effects. Exposure to high 

concentrations of 1,3-DNB can reduce the ability of 

blood to carry oxygen and can cause your skin to 

become bluish in color. If you are exposed to 1,3­

DNB for a long time, you can develop a reduction 

(or loss) in the number of red blood cells (anemia). 

Other symptoms of 1,3-DNB exposure include 

headache, nausea, and dizziness. We do not know if 

there are any long-term health effects of exposure to 

1,3-DNB or 1,3,5-TNB in people. We also do not 

know if 1,3-DNB or 1,3,5-TNB causes birth defects 

or cancer in people. 

Results of studies in animals show that effects of 

1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB on the blood are similar to 

the effects seen in people. Results from animal 

studies also show some other effects of 1,3-DNB 

exposure, such as behavioral changes, damaged 

sperm production, and male reproductive damage. 

We do not know if these other effects could occur in 

people. Animal studies also show that, in certain 

cases, a large enough single oral dose of 1,3-DNB 

can cause death. Neither 1,3-DNB or 1,3,5-TNB 

have been tested to see whether or not they cause 

cancer in animals. 

The Environmental Protection Agency has 

determined that 1,3-DNB is not classifiable as to its 

human carcinogenicity and has not classified the 

carcinogenicity of 1,3,5-TNB. 

1.6 IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO 

DETERMINE WHETHER I HAVE BEEN 

EXPOSED TO 1,3-DINITROBENZENE 

AND 1,3,5-TRINITROBENZENE? 

No tests are available commercially to determine if 

you have been exposed to 1,3-DNB or 1,3,5-TNB. 

There are tests to detect 1,3-DNB and its 

breakdown products in the blood and urine of 

exposed animals, but these tests have not been used 

for people. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

1,3-DINITROBENZENE AND 

1,3,5-TRINITROBENZENE 

CAS#: 1,3-Dinitrobenzene 99-65-0 

 1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene 99-35-4 

Division of Toxicology June 1995 

1.7 WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HAS THE 

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE TO 

PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH? 

The government has developed regulations and 

guidelines for 1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB. These are 

designed to protect the public from the harmful 

health effects of the chemicals. EPA has classified 

1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB as hazardous wastes that 

must meet certain disposal requirements. The 

Department of Transportation has many regulations 

on the transportation of explosives including 1,3­

DNB and 1,3,5-TNB. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

(OSHA) regulates levels of 1,3-DNB in the 

workplace. The maximum allowable amount of 1,3­

DNB in workroom air during an 8-hour workday, 

40-hour workweek, is 1.0 milligram per cubic meter 

(mg/m3). 

1.8 WHERE CAN I GET MORE 

INFORMATION? 

If you have any more questions or concerns, 

please contact your community or state health or 

environmental quality department or: 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

Division of Toxicology 

1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32 

Atlanta, GA 30333 

Information line and technical assistance: 

Phone: 888-422-8737 

FAX: (770)-488-4178 

ATSDR can also tell you the location of 

occupational and environmental health clinics. 

These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, 

and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to 

hazardous substances. 

To order toxicological profiles, contact: 

National Technical Information Service 

5285 Port Royal Road 

Springfield, VA 22161 

Phone: 800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000 

Reference 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

(ATSDR). 1995. Toxicological profile for 1,3­

dinitrobenzene and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene. Atlanta, 

GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, Public Health Service. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov