The uptake, potential biotransformation and bioaccumulation of TNT in mussels were investigated by two laboratory experiments using common blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the German North Sea. Mussels were exposed to different TNT concentrations over a period of time (first experiment: 48 hours exposure to different TNT concentrations; 0 mg/L, 0.625 mg/l, 1.25 mg/l and 2.5 mg/l. Second experiment: 24 hours exposure to 0 mg/l and 5 mg/l deuterated TNT) followed by recovery phase in clean artificial seawater (first experiment: 60 hours recovery. Second experiment: 12 hours recovery). Aquaria water and mussel tissues sampled from both exposure and recovery phases were analysed for TNT and metabolites for treatment and control groups. Analysis of TNT and its 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2-ADNT), 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4-ADNT) and 2,4-diamino-6-nitrotoluene (2,4-DANT) were conducted by GC-MS/MS analysis.

The dataset compiles information about the TNT uptake by mussels (M. edulis) and potential accumulation/depuration in the course of two different laboratory experiments. The data was obtained by GC-MS/MS analysis of mussel tissue and water samples.