Toxicity military explosives

The requirements of a military explosive are very stringent and very few explosives meet all the characteristics necessary to make them acceptable for military applications. In order to determine suitability of an explosive for military applications, explosives are first investigated for properties described in the previous section followed by their study from the point of view of volatility, toxicity, hygro-scopicity and density which are considered of paramount importance because of field conditions and optimal performance requirement. 

Explosives have an abundance of toxicological hazards, the extent of which is being increasingly identified. Due to their chemical structure, most explosives are toxic to some extent. Since the effect of toxicity may vary from a mild headache to serious damage of internal organs, toxicity in military explosives should be contained to a minimum level. Any explosive of high toxicity is unacceptable for military use. 

Solid trinitrotoluene (TNT) has been widely used as a military explosive. TNT is moderately to very toxic and has caused toxic hepatitis or aplastic anemia in exposed individuals, a few of whom have died from its toxic effects. It belongs to the general class of nitro compounds characterized by the presence of -N02 groups bonded to a hydrocarbon structure. 

Combustible when exposed to heat or flame. Can react with oxidizing materials. Explosive reaction with acetic acid + acetic anhydride + ammonium nitrate + nitric acid, 1-bromopenta borane(9) (above 90°C), iodoform (at 178°C), iodine (at 138°C). Reaction with nitric acid + acetic anhydride forms the military explosives RDX and HMX. Reacts violently with Na202. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of formaldehyde and NOx. See also AMINES. 

Dave G, Nilsson E and Wernersson A-S, Sediment and water-phase toxicity and UV-activation of six chemicals used in military explosives, Aquat. Ecosyst. Health... 

Anihte production ceased after 1924 because it was felt that the greater explosive power dispersed the toxic phosgene too much to create a sufficient concentration to be lethal. Also, it was too shock sensitive to be a safe military explosive. Reducing the shock sensitivity correspondingly reduced the power to more nearly equal TNT, thus eliminating any advantage. 

Manuals containing pictures of common military explosives, fuses, and munitions suspected at a site should be studied careMly by the excavation crews. Also, some explosives, toxic smoke candles, and CAIS vials were canned and may look like any other garbage in a landfill. 

TNT is the most widely used military explosive in history. The reasons for its popularity are its low cost and simplicity of preparation, safe handling (low sensitivity to impact and friction), relatively high explosive power (yet good chemical and thermal stability), low volatility and toxicity, compatibility with other explosives, and a low melting point, allowing for melt-casted formulations. 

General. This section contains general information about toxicity of military explosives. All tables indicating quantity distance separations, minimum distances, etc., have been removed from this... 

Many explosives, because of their chemical structures, are somewhat toxic. To be acceptable, a military explosive must be of minimum toxicity. Careful attention must be paid to this feature because the effects of... 

Table 12-1. Toxicity of United States Military Explosives...

Rapid and reliable detection of dangerous disease organisms, highly toxic chemicals, and concealed explosives (including those in land mines), is the first important step in responding to threats. The next important step for chemists and chemical engineers will be to devise methods to deal with such threats, including those involved in terrorist or military attacks. 

Common hazardous wastes include (a) waste oil, (b) solvents and thinners, (c) acids and bases/alkalines, (d) toxic or flammable paint wastes, (e) nitrates, perchlorates, and peroxides, (f) abandoned or used pesticides, and (g) some wastewater treatment sludges. Special hazardous wastes include (a) industrial wastes containing the USEPA priority pollutants, (b) infectious medical wastes, (c) explosive military wastes, and (d) radioactive wastes or releases. 

Vincennite. Poisonous mixt used by the Fr in WWI in chemical shells. It consisted of hydrogen cyanide 50, As trichloride 30, Sn tetrachloride 15, and chloroform 5%. There was difficulty in obtaining toxic concns in field use because of the extreme volatility of the hydrocyanic acid Ref J. Bebie, Explosives, Military Pyrotechnics and Chemical Warfare Agents , Macmillan Co, NY (1943), 160... 

Primary explosives are substances which show a very rapid transition from deflagration to detonation and generate a shock-wave which makes transfer of the detonation to a (less sensitive) secondary explosive possible. Lead azide and lead styphnate are the most commonly used primary explosives today. However, the long-term use of these compounds (which contain the toxic heavy metal lead) has caused considerable lead contamination in military training grounds. Costly clean-up... 

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