Ammunition waste sites

Cardiovascular Effects. Palpitations, low blood pressure, and tachycardia were described in subjects exposed to 1,3-DNB by the inhalation (Okubo and Shigeta 1982), oral (Kumar et al. 1990), and dermal (White and Hay 1901) routes of exposure. These responses are consistent with effects of organic nitrates. 1,3-DNB is an organic nitrate and shares many of the cardiovascular properties of therapeutic nitrates. Organic nitrates induce relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle which can result in peripheral vasodilation and a fall in blood pressure followed by a compensatory vasoconstriction (Abrams 1980). The general information available on organic nitrates suggests that exposure to 1,3-DNB or 1,3,5-TNB at ammunition waste sites or at work places where these chemicals are used may lead to adverse cardiovascular effects. 

The Ecolotree buffer uses phytoremediation, or plant processes, for environmental remediation purposes. Ecolotree buffers can be used to reduce the migration of subsurface water and surface runoff, while also acting as an in situ remediation technique for both organic and heavy-metal contaminants, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) chlorinated solvents ammunition wastes and excess nutrients in soil or water. The technology is commercially available and has been used at landfill and waste treatment sites. 

As a result of the extensive production of ammunition before and during World War II, a large number of hazardous waste sites still exist in Germany, where both soil and water are polluted by explosives and their transformation... 

White phosphorus enters the environment when industries make it or use it to make other chemicals and when the military uses it as ammunition. It also enters the environment from spills during storage and transport. Because of the discharge of waste water, white phosphorus is likely to be found in the water and bottom deposits of rivers and lakes near facilities that make or use it. It may also be found at sites where the military uses phosphorus-containing ammunition during training exercises. Rainwater washout of these sites may contaminate nearby waterways and their bottom deposits. Hazardous waste sites that contain white phosphorus are also potential sources of exposure to people. However, because white phosphorus reacts very quickly with oxygen in the air, it may not be found far away from sources of contamination. 

Exposure Levels in Humans. Biomarkers for exposure to tetryl, especially metabolic products need to be identified so that biological monitoring studies can be conducted. Data are needed both for occupationally exposed populations and for populations living in the vicinity of Army ammunition plants and hazardous waste sites. These data would aid in evaluating the extent of human exposure. 

Levsen K, Mussmann P, Berger E, et al. 1993. Analysis of nitroaromatics and nitramines in ammunition waste water and in aqueous samples from former ammunition plants and other military sites. Acta Hydrochim Hydrobiol 21 153-166. 

RDX particles can enter the air when it is disposed of by burning. RDX can enter the water from disposal of waste water from Army ammunition plants, and can enter water or soil from spills or leaks from improper disposal at these plants or at hazardous waste sites. RDX dissolves very slowly and to a limited extent in water, and it also evaporates very slowly from water. It does not cling to soil very strongly and can get into the groundwater from soil. RDX can be broken down in air and water in a few hours, but it breaks down more slowly in soil. RDX does not build up in fish or in people. See Chapters 4 and 5 for more information on RDX in the environment. 

Workers involved in the production and use of RDX at Army ammunition plants constitute a group at risk because of the potential for occupational exposure. Persons living near Army ammunition plants or hazardous waste sites may have a higher risk of exposure to RDX resulting from inhalation of dusts or fumes, ingestion of contaminated drinking water, or contact with contaminated soil. 

TSP-LC-MS in the negative mode was used to identify and quantify the explosives TNT, RDX and hexyl, as weU as their degradation products and other pollutants, in groundwater samples of an ammunition hazardous waste site after SPE applying LiChrolut EN. 31 compounds could be identified, such as nitramines and their by-products, TNT and partially nitrated toluenes, 1,3,5-ttinitrobenzene and partially nitrated benzenes, aminonitrotoluenes, nitroanilines, hexyl and nitro-phenols [205]. 

Twin City is the 10-aere site of a former U.S. Army ammunition produetion faeility. Attempted destruetion of oflf-spee or damaged ammunition eontaminated the soil with lead and other heavy metals ineluding antimony, eadmium, ehromium, eopper, mereury, and niekel. Soil deeontamination involved a new soil-washing and lead-leaehing teehnique designed to generate no waste streams. 

One program is the ongoing effort by the Department of Defense (DOD) to demilitarize unneeded portions of its massive stockpile of ammunition and explosives. The trend is away from open buming/open detonation (OB/OD) and toward new demilitarization technologies allowing resource recovery and recycling. The second program is the remediation of ordnance and explosives waste (OEW) from both active and formerly used defense sites (FUDS). 

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