[CPEO-MEF] Perchlorate in spotting charges

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

[Laura Olah <olah@speagle.com> raises an important question. Is
perchlorate from practice-bomb spotting charges a problem on bombing
ranges? Does any know which practice bombs use the formulations she
describes below?]


Lenny and all,
As you know, practice bombs often have a pyrotechnic cartridge that
produces a flash of light and a puff of smoke to show the point of
impact.  As recent postings have noted, several Incendiary Mixtures (IM)
contain perchlorates -- yet another reason why the use of "practice" or
"inert" munitions is not necessarily environmentally benign.  This begs
the following:  As folks have reported perchlorates have been found at a
number of OB/OD facilities, is there potential for a comparable impact
at bombing ranges?
Laura

IM-23*
50% Potassium Perchlorate
50% Magnesium Aluminum Alloy

IM-136
49% Potassium Perchlorate
49% Magnesium Aluminum Alloy

IM-162
25% Incendiary Comp IM-23
75% Zirconium

IM-163
50% Incendiary Comp IM-23
50% Zirconium

*Incendiary Compound IM-23 and IM-136 are composed of Potassium
Perchlorate and Magnesium Aluminum Alloy.  The limited database on the
toxicology of perchlorate confirms its potential to disrupt thyroid
hormone production in mammalian test species, but no robust data exist
to evaluate the dose-response for this thyroid effect or to evaluate
other potential target tissues or effects.  There are no existing data
to evaluate the effects of perchlorate in developing fetuses or other
populations that may be potentially more susceptible or to evaluate its
effects on ecological systems.   Studies are now underway to evaluate
these potential effects. (Source: USEPA, Office of Groundwater and
Drinking Water, Perchlorate Fact Sheet.
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/ccl/perchlor/perchlo.html)

Inhalation of magnesium aluminum alloy powder may irritate the
respiratory tract.  Symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath,
sore throat and runny nose.  If sufficient amounts are inhaled and
absorbed, symptoms may resemble those in acute ingestion.  Acute
(short-term) skin and eye contact may cause irritation with symptoms of
redness, swelling, itching and pain.  Acute ingestion may cause
gastroenteritis (inflammation of the lining membrane of the stomach and
intestines) with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Systemic effects may follow and may include ringing of the ears,
dizziness, elevated blood pressure, blurred vision and tremors.

Exposure to magnesium oxide fume subsequent to burning, welding or
molten metal work can result in metal fume fever.   Metal fume fever's
temporary symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and muscle
pain. These symptoms usually occur 4-12 hours after exposure and last up
to 48 hours. Magnesium oxide fume is a by-product of burning magnesium.

(Source: Material Safety Data Sheet, Magnesium Aluminum Alloy Powder,
Hummel Croton, Inc.
http://www.hummelcroton.com/m_mgal.html) Note: there is an underline
mark between m and mgal in this website address.


--
Laura Olah, Executive Director
Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger
E12629 Weigand's Bay South
Merrimac, WI  53561
phone (608)643-3124
fax (608)643-0005 alt fax (608)643-2682
Email: olah@speagle.com
Primary website: http://www.cswab.com
Alt website: http://www.speagle.com/cswab

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