In vitro and in vivo effects of 5-aminotetrazole (5-AT), an energetic compound

Perchlorate is an important oxidizer used in propellants, pyrotechnics, and as a gas generator in commercial airbags, fireworks, and roadside flares. It is highly water soluble, interferes with thyroidal iodide uptake and is an environmental contaminant. By changing the reaction chemistry, 5-aminotetrazole (5-AT) and nitrates replace perchlorate in some propellants. The short term toxicity of 5-AT was evaluated. Using a modified Ames assay, 5-AT was not mutagenic with or without S9 metabolic activation. 5-AT was considered “slightly toxic” with an EC50 of 28.8 mg 5-AT/L for a 15 min exposure in Aliivibrio fischeri. In the in vitro sodium iodide symporter test, 5-AT did not inhibit the uptake of iodine. In the acute rat oral test, no adverse effects and no mortalities were observed at the limit dose of 2000 mg 5-AT/kg. In the 14-day sub-acute study, there were no clinical signs of toxicity or morbidity up to 623 mg 5-AT/kg-day; the highest dose tested. No differences were observed in hematology, clinical chemistry, organ weight, body weight, food consumption, histopathology, or DNA damage (peripheral blood micronucleus assay) of treatments compared with controls. The No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) was 623 mg 5-AT/kg-day, the highest dose in the subacute oral bioassay.