Preparation for anticipated, unknown, and invariably adverse battlefield conditions requires military training activities involving military smokes and obscurants (S & Os) and related chemical compounds, and can result in the release of other chemical agents and military unique compounds (MUCs) associated with munitions. This study evaluates the potential long-term impacts on selected threatened and endangered species resulting from dispersion and deposition of vapors and particles found in the fog oils, hexachloroethane smoke, colored smokes, white phosphorus, and obscurants such as brass flakes and graphite flakes used during training. Residue from these constituents can deposit directly on plants and prey species favored by higher vertebrates and other species or can be taken up by plants and prey species from the soil. From the literature and installation use reports, the authors develop estimates of toxicity and exposure to calculate installation-specific screening-level risk for selected threatened and endangered species.

More than 21,000 contaminated sites have been identified on Department of Defense (DoD) installations. The scope of this environmental problem is obvious whether one considers the nature and extent of contamination or the amount of resources required to evaluate and/or clean up such a large number of sites. Under most circumstances, decisions regarding the need for and the scope of any cleanup action will be driven by environmental risk assessment. As required by Federal regulation, such assessments must address the potential risk to human health and the environment posed by the contaminants present at any particular site. Over the last 20 years, methods for performing human health risk assessments have developed, matured, and been incorporated into well established Federal guidance used within various Federal programs and agencies, Compensation and Liability Act or Superfund. Greater public concern recent years has been focused on more general environmental problems resulting from the presence of contaminants in the environment. However, the issues involved in making a determination about the broader ecological consequences of contaminant exposure are more complex than those related to human health risk. This fact is most simply illustrated by considering that human heath risk assessments need only focus on the risk to one receptor, humans; whereas, an ecological risk assessment must potentially consider the risk to hundreds of interacting species located at any particular site. This disparity in the complexity involved in human and ecological assessments of risk is further emphasized by the fact that for ecological risk assessments, the number and kinds of receptors vary considerably from site to site.

Smokes, obscurants, and riot-control agents constitute a diverse group of chemical compounds that are released into the environment during military training exercises. Concern has been expressed over the use of these compounds and how they may adversely affect threatened and endangered (T & E) species that reside on military reservations. To evaluate if smokes and obscurants present a hazard to T & E species, the appropriate data must be collected. These data must be adequate to evaluate both direct ecological effects (effects to T & E species that result from direct exposure to smokes or smoke residues) and indirect ecological effects (effects on T & E species that result from effects of smokes on habitats of T & E species or on species upon which T & E species depend). This report presents an approach for the selection of methods suitable to evaluate the ecological risks that smokes and obscurants present to T & E species, summarizes available sampling, survey, and toxicity testing methods, and outlines an approach for estimating risks based on weighing multiple lines of evidence. Volume 1 of this series will be an overview of the entire study and will include information on applicable regulations. Volume 3 will discuss strategies for developing a statistically sound approach to assessing effects of military smokes and obscurants. Volume 4 will discuss appropriate chemical analysis methods.

This report describes several multimedia exposure assessment models and discusses their applicability for use in evaluating ecological risk of exposure to military-related compounds (MRCs). The risk of exposure to MRCs by ecological units is of vital importance because of the unique characteristics of certain military specific compounds. This assessment of risk is valuable for permitting and planning activities as well as for possible cleanup operations of contaminated sites should the risk to an ecological unit become too great. The requirement that the model be a screening-level model was made to allow for the use of simplified, quantitative, predictive methods that minimize time and effort for implementation in order to quickly obtain the necessary information needed to make a judgment of risk to an ecological unit. The MRCs of primary concern addressed in this report are 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX). Briefly discussed is the risk of exposure to radioactive compounds. This report presents a discussion of the selection of an existing screening-level model and the modifications made to allow for the evaluation of ecological risk of exposure to the primary MRCs of concern at military sites (i.e., TNT, RDX, and HMX).

Understanding Risk to Wildlife from Exposures to Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) provides the most recent summary of toxicity data relevant to mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, and provides values for use in risk assessment applications. Predicting the bioaccumulation of PFAS in terrestrial wildlife (including humans) has proven to be extremely complex. As a group, PFAS act differently than traditional non-ionic organic molecules, where PFAS can break down and reform, whereas some are demonstrated to be extremely persistent. Where sufficient data are provided, this book establishes toxicity reference values (TRVs), which are derived to assist in characterizing environmental sources of contamination and making risk-based decisions. Features: Provides toxicity reference values (TRVs) for vertebrates (mammals, birds, amphibians) for PFAS, where sufficient data are available, and includes objective supporting background information. Assigns a level of confidence to each TRV to provide the risk assessor with an understanding of the relative uncertainty associated with each value. Presents toxicity data in the formats of scatter diagrams and tables for quick review and assessment. Provides TRVs relevant for screening and decision making This book serves as a useful aid for risk assessors and managers in those industries that have sites contaminated with PFAS, consultants tasked with evaluating risks at such sites, and staff at regulatory agencies at various governmental levels, who need to know how much contamination is considered safe for wildlife. It will also appeal to researchers with an interest in filling the gaps in the current toxicological data for PFAS exposure.

Provides a hands-on approach to demilitarization and environmental aspects of energetic materials and munitions This book gives an overview of the environmental impact of the production, use, and cleanup of energetic materials and munitions. It provides scientists, engineers, environmental specialists, and users with the understanding of environmental issues for munitions and of the ways to improve design and manage potential risks. It covers the various aspects of how chemical properties influence fate, transport, and toxicity of new formulations and prescribes tools for reducing or alleviating environmental risks. In addition, it discusses pyrotechnics and the problem of dealing with munitions underwater. Chapters in Energetic Materials and Munitions: Life Cycle Management, Environmental Impact and Demilitarization look at demilitarization in general, as well as in the future. Topics covered include logistics, costs, and management; life cycle analysis and management; and greener munitions. Another introduces readers to the "One Health" approach in the design of sustainable munition compounds. Following that, readers are taught about land assessment for munitions-related contamination in military live-fire training. The book also examines the development and integration of environmental, safety, and occupational health information. -Brings together in one source expertise and in-depth information on the current and future state of how we handle the production, use, and demilitarization of explosives and weaponry -A handy reference for experienced practitioners, as well as for training young professionals in the field -Every chapter contains real-life examples and proposes future directions for the field Energetic Materials and Munitions: Life Cycle Management, Environmental Impact and Demilitarization is an important book for explosives specialists, pyrotechnicians, materials scientists, military authorities, safety officers, health officers, and chemical engineers.