Characterization of Atmospheric Emissions Produced by Live Gun Firing: Test on the Carl Gustav Anti-Tank, 84 mm Weapon

• Main Authors: Quemerais, Bernadette, Diaz, Emmanuela, Poulin, Isabelle, Marois, Andre
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: 84 MM GUNS; ARMY PERSONNEL; ARTILLERY; ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS; Atmospheric Physics; CANADA; CARL GUSTAV; CHEMICALS; EMISSION; ENVIRONMENTS; EXPOSURE(GENERAL); FOREIGN REPORTS; GUNFIRE; Guns; HEALTH; MILITARY TRAINING; OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES; PARTICLES

Airborne substances emitted during live gun firing of the anti-tank Carl Gustav 84 mm weapon were characterized during a live firing training exercise in Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Valcartier in February 2007. Sampling was performed continuously for two hours throughout the exercise during which particles and chemicals accumulated on sampling media. In total, seventyone rounds were fired at two firing bays. Established occupational health methods were used to collect and analyze samples for particulate matter, hydrogen cyanide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dinitrotoluene compounds, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, metals, aldehydes, nitric acid (HNO3), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). Two sets of samples were collected at two sampling stations. Both sampling stations were located behind Firing Bay #2. Most of the chemicals were not detected during the trial. For both sets of samples, particles were found at concentrations much higher than the recommended environmental standards. These findings suggest that there is a potential risk to health associated with exposure to particles for artillery soldiers. For contaminants, concentrations were detected at higher levels at Station #1 than at Station #2 since the first station was closer to the firing bay. Hydrogen cyanide was detected at concentrations of 26.7 and 21.7 g/m3 for Stations #1 and #2, respectively. Lead was detected at concentrations of 2.8 and 2.1 g/m3 for Stations #1 and #2, respectively. Acetaldehyde was detected at concentrations of 12.7 and 9.3 g/m3, respectively, and formaldehyde was also detected at concentrations of 8.2 and 5.8 g/m3 for Stations #1 and #2, respectively. Although iron and propionaldehyde were also detected, it is believed that the concentrations observed were too low to create a potential risk for the soldiers. Text in English; abstracts in French and English.