Metal Residue Deposition from Military Pyrotechnic Devices and Field Sampling Guidance

Abstract : Pyrotechnic devices used at military installations as part of routine training activities contain metals such as aluminum, antimony, barium, boron, cerium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, strontium, titanium, tungsten, zirconium, and zinc. The US Army's Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) is responsible for determining whether this use of pyrotechnic devices resulted in an environmental impact because of exceedance of acceptable risk standards. This study examined the metals deposition for the M18 Green Smoke Hand Grenade, M21 Flash Artillery Simulator, M117 Booby Trap Flash Simulator, and M127A1 Signal White Parachute. The tests were conducted by firing the devices over a fresh snowfall and collecting the residues. Multiple tests were conducted for each pyrotechnic device with multiple pyrotechnic devices used for each test. Filtered snow, solid residue from snow filtering, tray deposit, cartridge rinseate, and soil samples were collected. Metals were detected in the snow samples but the concentrations were very low. Similarly, soil sample results indicated the metal loading could not be distinguished from background. Metals deposition was greatest for those devices detonated on the ground surface. Apparently, dispersion in air circulates the particulate residue over such a large area that significant metal accumulation does not occur. Loadings sufficient to exceed metal regulatory levels would require hundreds of detonations in the same area with little air dispersion.