Pollution status of shooting range soils from Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn found in ammunition

Abstract

Evaluation of concentration of heavy metals found in shooting range soil is important in assessing the pollution risk posed to biota. Soil samples from five shooting ranges found in Botswana were used in this study. All the five shooting ranges accumulated high concentration of Cu ranging from 67.4 ± 0.05 mg/kg to 1569 ± 13 mg/kg followed by Mn (25.9 ± 0.1–953.8 ± 2.8 mg/kg). Pollution risk indices were used to quantify the environmental pollution risk posed by the different heavy metals studied. It was established that even though all the five shooting ranges recorded low concentrations of Cd, this metal still posed the highest pollution risk than any other metal with S/P shooting range recording the highest potential ecological risk index (peri) of 8141 (C_Cd ~ 3.6 ± 0.03 mg/kg) and TAB at PERI of 3507 (C_Cd ~ 4.9 ± 0.02 mg/kg). Similarly, contamination factor (CF) value of 271 for Cd was measured at S/P shooting range indicating high contamination from Cd. Pollution risk indices were able to establish that even though concentration of Cd accumulated in the soil was low this heavy metal still posed highest pollution risk to biota. Continuous assessment of the pollution status of these shooting ranges should be carried out in order to establish appropriate best shooting range management practices and remedial strategies.

Keywords:

• ammunition
• shooting range
• pollution risk index
• environmental pollution
• Botswana

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

This study is the first in Botswana in assessing pollution in shooting range soils from ammunition. Shooting ranges are a source of environmental pollution since toxic heavy metals are major constituents of bullets. Concentrations of toxic metals in the five military shooting ranges that have been in operation for over 30 years exceeded the world health organization (WHO) set limits. These toxic metals can be absorbed by plants endangering humans and animals that consume them. Adverse health effects such as respiratory and kidney problems can result from exposure to these hazardous metals. Most of the shooting ranges studied are not fenced making them accessible as grazing fields. Surface and underground water pollution is possible resulting in these toxic metals finding their way into the food chain. Therefore remedial measures such as cleaning of contaminated soils and fencing of shooting ranges should be carried out as soon as possible.

Competing Interests

The authors declares no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) for providing their shooting ranges to be used in the study. We would like to acknowledge the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) for their assistance with ICP-OES instrument for heavy metal analysis.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report no potential conflict of interest.

Cover Image

Source: Author.

Additional information

Funding

Financial support for this research work was provided by the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Research Initiation Grant Number BIUST/ds/R&I/26/2016; Botswana International University of Science and Technology [Research Initiation [grant number BIUST/ds/R&I/26/2016]].

Notes on contributors

Pogisego Dinake

Pogisego Dinake works as a lecturer in the department of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, Botswana International University of Science & Technology (BIUST), Botswana. He obtained his PhD in Chemistry in 2012 at Howard University in the United States of America (USA). His research interests are in Environmental Analytical Chemistry. He investigates environmental pollution of air, soil, water and living organisms from trace metals and organic pollutants. He also studies; chemical speciation of heavy metals in water, soil and biological systems and chemical remediation of toxic trace metal contaminated water and soil. He also applies supramolecular chemistry in the design, synthesis and application of macro ligands for environmental pollution monitoring such as molecular sieves for waste water purification. He has collaboration with researchers in Botswana, South Africa and USA. He has published in international journals. Recently he has established his own research laboratory and working on various environmental pollution projects.