Training and testing on DoD operational ranges, firing ranges, and shoot houses all have the potential to release hazardous materials as emissions. This is a particular subject of interest for lead-based explosives used in primers and detonators. Emerging regulation for both ambient air and occupational exposure has the potential to impact continued use of lead-based energetic materials. A 2013 study by the National Research Council found that the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lead blood concentration level is not protective of workers, including those exposed to airborne lead on training ranges and shoot houses.
The impacts of these findings are still being determined; however, it is anticipated that lower occupational exposure levels will be enacted to reduce worker and warfighter exposure to lead on training ranges, shoot houses, and firing ranges. Better characterization of lead emissions at firing points can guide better environmental regulations and inform DoD’s response to them. Some issues may be alleviated through engineering controls at ranges.
Better characterization is also needed for metal combustion products and other emissions that could be transported off-range. In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reduced the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead by an order of magnitude to 0.15 µg/m3 . Installations that emit ½ ton or more of lead emissions may have to comply with monitoring requirements. This change to the NAAQS increases the risk of violations with continued training with lead-based primary explosives. This NAAQS will be in full effect by 2018.
Finally, there are no accurate ways to predict products from the combustion of pyrotechnics. Thermodynamic models assume complete and ideal detonation, which is often impossible in slow burning, non-ideal pyrotechnic formulations. There are no effective, rapid screening methodologies for identifying products of combustion outside of full-up item testing and random air sampling. Small scale evaluation methodologies would improve formulation selections and help to identify potential environmental contaminants emitted through use of pyrotechnics. This is particularly important for chlorinated compounds that are used in pyrotechnic flares, which have the potential to release chlorinated ring compounds (e.g., dioxins).