Database of in-plume emission factors from open demilitarization of military ordnance

ABSTRACT

A searchable database of emission factors from open burning, open detonation, and static firing of military ordnance and rocket motors has been developed and made available. Sampling and analytical results since 2010 have been compiled from seven campaigns in the USA and Canada at four different sites. Various ordnance types were used for multiple test scenarios varying location, soil covered/uncovered, metal-cased and uncased, and net explosive weight. Target compounds include, variously, particulate matter, metals, energetics, volatile organic compounds, and others. Data were primarily derived from unmanned aerial sampling methods using ordnance charge sizes and procedures representative of operational demilitarization operations. The database includes 1,212 emission factors for 39 different types of munitions and an array of pollutants where open burns accounted for 514 scenarios, static firing for 83, and open detonation for 614. The database will be of use for risk evaluations, environmental reporting requirements, and demilitarization operations.

KEYWORDS:

• Database
• emission factors
• open burning
• open detonation
• static fire

Acknowledgments

These projects have been supported by the Department of Defense Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program through projects WP-1672, WP-2153, WP-2233, and WP19-1392. Additional support was provided by the Joint Munitions Command, Program Manager Demilitarization and the Canadian Department of National Defence (MIPR 10489672); US Army PD Joint Services – Demil (MIPR 10848672); and the US EPA’s Office of Research and Development. We are grateful for site support from personnel at Tooele Army Ammunition Depot, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center, and New Mexico Institute of Technology. Contributions from personnel at NASA Ames, University of North Carolina, and University of Dayton Research Institute are appreciated.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author Declaration

The authors declare no competing interests.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07370652.2024.2346327.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the US Army PD Joint Services – Demil [MIPR 10848672]; Joint Munitions Command [MIPR 10489672]; Department of Defense Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program [WP-1672, WP-2153, WP-2233, WP19-1392]; US EPA Office of Research and Development [Internal funding].