Acute and Subacute Toxicity Evaluation of Ammonium Dinitramide.

Abstract : The Department of Defense is considering replacing ammonium perchiorate with ammonium dinitramide (ADN). Ammonium dinitramide, a Class 1.1 explosive oxidizer, would be used in solid rocket engine propellant mixtures as well as used as a high explosive. The first objective of this study was to provide acute hazard information on ADN to industrial hygienists responsible for the safe handling of this material. Because the most likely form of accidental exposure would be by the dermal or oral routes, acute oral and dermal toxicity tests were performed. Oral gavage of ADN solutions greater than 1 g/kg resulted in mortality preceded by convulsions. An oral LD50 of 823 mg/kg was determined for male Fischer 344 rats. Rats receiving nonlethal doses of ADN showed no treatment-related effects when necropsied following a 14-day observation period. Dermal toxicity in New Zealand white rabbits, performed at the Environmental Protection Agency's limit dose level of 2 g/kg body weight, resulted in no mortality, no clinical signs or differences in clinical pathology following a 14-day post-treatment observation period.