Heavy Metal Contaminates on Ranges

[Laura Olah <olah@speagle.com>]

Hi all!

Following is text from the first couple pages from a 66-page
report that was forwarded to us by a colleague. It is yet
ANOTHER study documenting the profound damage caused by
so-called "conventional" munitions. Hopefully we have given
enough information so folks can request a copy from Argonne.

Laura

Document #ANL/ESD/TM-59

Work sponsored by the Department of the Army, U.S. Army 7th Army
Training Center, 100th Area Support Group, Directorate of
Engineering and Housing, Environmental Division, Grafenwohr,
Germany. Published by : Energy Systems Divison, Argonne National
Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, 9700 South Cass
Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439-4815

Title: Heavy-Metal Contamination on Training Ranges
at the Grafenwohr Training Area, Germany

by

S.D. Zellmer and J.F. Schneider

Abstract

Large quantities of lead and other heavy metals are deposited in
the environment of weapons ranges during training exercises.
This study was conducted to determine the type, degree, and
extent of heavy-metal contamination on selected handgun, rifle,
and hand-grenade ranges at Grafenwohr Training Area in Germany.
Soil, vegetation, and surface-water samples were collected and
analyzed using the inductively-coupled plasma atomic-emission
spectroscopy (ICP-AES) method and the toxic characterization
leaching procedure (TCLP). The ICP-AES results show that
above-normal levels of lead and copper are in the surface soil
at the handgun range, high concentrations of lead and copper are
in the berm and soil surface at the rifle range, and elevated
levels of cadmium and above-normal concentrations of arsenic,
copper, and zinc are present in the surface soil at the
hand-grenade range. The TCLP results show that surface soils can
be considered hazardous waste because of lead content at the
rifle range and because of cadmium concentration at the
hand-grenade range. Vegetation at the handgun and rifle has
above-normal concentrations of lead. At the hand-grenade range,
both vegetation and surface water have high levels of cadmium. A
hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrum analyzer was used to
measure lead concentrations in soils in a field test of the
method. Comparison of XRF readings with ICP-AES results for lead
indicate that the accuracy and precision of the hand-held XRF
unit must improve before the unit can be used as more than a
screening tool. Results of this study show that heavy-metal
contamination at all three ranges is limited to the surface
soil; heavy metals are not being leached into the soil profile
or transported into adjacent areas.

1. Introduction

Military training exercises during the past several decades at
the Grafenwohr Training Area (GTA) have included firing of a
variety of weapons and weapon systems on a number of firing
ranges and target areas. The types of weapons used during these
live-fire exercises range from small arms and hand grenades to
artillery, tanks, and helicopter gunships. One environmental
consequence of these firing exercises is the deposition of
potentially large quantities of heavy metals (e.g., lead,
copper, zinc) and explosive residue onto the soils of firing
ranges and target areas at GTA. Thus, elevated concentrations of
some heavy metals and explosive residue may be present in these
soils. It is also conceivable that some heavy metals could be
incorporated into food webs through uptake by vegetation.
Equally important, it is possible, given certain circumstance
that significant quantities of heavy metals could be introduced
into the local surface waters and/or leached from the soil into
groundwater supplies. These conditions could provide an
effective mechanism for transporting heavy metals to surrounding
nonmilitary areas, producing significant adverse environmental
impacts affecting the local German population. The type, degree,
and extent of heavy-metal and explosive-residue contamination
from current and past training exercises need to be determined,
and the probability of off-site transport of heavy-metal
contaminants must be evaluated.

This investigation was undertaken to provide the U.S. Army with
documentation on the type, degree, and extent of heavy-metal and
explosive-residue contamination on three types of training
ranges and their environs at GTA in Germany. Current and past
training exercises requiring the use of small arms and other
munitions have resulted in the deposition of heavy metals onto
the soils of training ranges. Potential contamination of the
local environment by the introduction of metals into the local
surface waters or groundwater supplies was assessed.

Laura Olah, Executive Director
Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger
E12629 Weigand's Bay South
Merrimac, Wisconsin 53561
olah@speagle.com
Phone (608)643-3124 Fax (608)643-0005
Website http://www.speagle.com/cswab