Explosive ordnance toxicity

Not only is there no evidence that the enormous quantities of toxic substances and munitions known to have been there were moved, but these two memoranda seem to indicate that the chemical and explosive munitions were not moved to the Ordnance Department facilities at Aberdeen. 

At the end of May, Shadle expressed his satisfaction with the chemical offensive potential and ammunition status in the North African theater. His view seems to have been overly optimistic since smoke pots, tear gas, and HC smoke grenades were the only ammunition items available in sufficient supply. All the chemical supply officers reported urgent requests for unavailable white phosphorus grenades. The Twelfth Air Force reported limited quantities of ANM50A1 4-pound incendiary bombs, a few Mja yoo-pound incendiary bomb clusters, and a considerable number of My4 loo-pound incendiary bomb clusters. There was no other chemical ammunition in the theater although the New York port had promised that 120 days supply of high explosive and smoke shell was en route for the three chemical mortar battalions which had recently arrived in the theater. Aside from a small amount of artillery shell stored by Ordnance, no toxics were available in the theater and none was scheduled to arrive until the fall of 1943. The March theater plan for gas warfare, the first such plan, was based on meeting possible enemy gas attack with this plainly inadequate supply of artillery shell. The new War Department policy for retaliation in event of enemy initiation of gas warfare called for the use of aerial munitions as the principal gas weapons. Shadle s satisfaction with the toxic supply status can be explained by the fact that he did not con-... 

As ordnance deteriorates, it must be disposed of properly. Also, many World War I guns and mortars were replaced over the next two decades, rendering many munitions obsolete, such as the Stokes and Livens mortars. Much World War I small arms ammunition was corrosively primed, rendering it undesirable. Fuses were improved and standardized around 1930, rendering still more ammunition unserviceable. Much of this obsolete ordnance was buried during this time frame and is even more dangerous today because of toxicity and the hypersensitivity of its explosive filler. 

Munitions or containerized explosive dumped in water often act as stractures which attract fish for nesting or for protection from larger predators. As these fish hang around the shells, they absorb high levels of toxic explosives, even where the ordnance casing is leaking slowly. This escalates up the food chain eventually poisoning humans. 

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