Conventional weapons demilitarization: A health and environmental effects data base assessment: Propellants and their co-contaminants

Technical Report · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5873712· OSTI ID:5873712

Mallon, B.; Layton, D.; Fish, R.; Hsieh, P.; Hall, L.; Perry, L.; Snyder, G.

The demilitarization of propellants by open burning results in the deposition of residues on soils. Residues can consist of the main ingredients in propellant formulations, namely, nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, and nitroguanidine. Co-contaminants, consisting of plasticizers and stabilizers present in propellant formulations as well as environmental degradation products of the propellants, represent additional soil contaminants. These substances include nitrosoguanidine, dibutylphthlate, diethylphthlate, dipenylamine, and ethyl centralite. To support studies of the health and environmental risks of such by-products, this report presents assessments of data available on parameters that affect the risks posed by propellants and their principal co-contaminants. Specifically, data-base assessments cover factors that influence the transport and fate of the contaminants in environmental media (e.g., soils, water, etc.) and subsequently, human exposures via different pathways (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption). Importantly, information on dose-response relationships for various toxic effects in humans and laboratory animals is evaluated so that acceptable daily intakes for noncarcinogenic substances and virtually safe dose rates species are also addressed. 284 refs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5873712
• Report Number(s): UCRL-21110; ON: DE89016664
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE ESTERS
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
CONTAMINATION
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
DOSE RATES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ESTERS
EXPLOSIVES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MANAGEMENT
NITRIC ACID ESTERS
NITROCELLULOSE
NITROGLYCERIN
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PLANTS
PLASTICIZERS
POLYSACCHARIDES
PROPELLANTS
SACCHARIDES
SOILS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TOXICITY