Characterization of exposure to byproducts from firing lead-free frangible ammunition in an enclosed, ventilated firing range.
U.S. Air Force small arms firing ranges began using copper-based, lead-free frangible ammunition in the early 2000s due to environmental and health concerns related to the use of lead-based ammunition. Exposure assessments at these firing ranges have routinely detected chemicals and metals in amount...
| Publicado en: | Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene Vol. 14; no. 6; pp. 461 - 473 |
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| Autores principales: | , , , , , , , |
| Formato: | pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article |
| Publicado: |
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Jun2017
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=123086671&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 123086671 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 15459624 V1L jtl: Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene issn: 15459624 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Jun2017 vid: 14 iid: 6 pid: 377 pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania artinfo: ui: 123086671 123086671 123086671 10.1080/15459624.2017.1296232 123086671 ppf: 461 ppct: 12 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: P tig: atl: Characterization of exposure to byproducts from firing lead-free frangible ammunition in an enclosed, ventilated firing range. aug: au: Grabinski, Christin M. Methner, Mark M. Jackson, Jerimiah M. Moore, Alexander L. Flory, Laura E. Tilly, Trevor Hussain, Saber M. Ott, Darrin K. affil: Force Health Branch, United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio sug: subj: Ammunition Occupational Exposure Evaluation Human Ventilation Firearms ab: U.S. Air Force small arms firing ranges began using copper-based, lead-free frangible ammunition in the early 2000s due to environmental and health concerns related to the use of lead-based ammunition. Exposure assessments at these firing ranges have routinely detected chemicals and metals in amounts much lower than their mass-based occupational exposure limits, yet, instructors report work-related health concerns including respiratory distress, nausea, and headache. The objective of this study at one firing range was to characterize the aerosol emissions produced by weapons during firing events and evaluate the ventilation system's effectiveness in controlling instructor exposure to these emissions. The ventilation system was assessed by measuring the range static air pressure differential and the air velocity at the firing line. Air flow patterns were near the firing line. Instructor exposure was sampled using a filter-based air sampling method for metals and a wearable, real-time ultrafine particle counter. Area air sampling was simultaneously performed to characterize the particle size distribution, morphology, and composition. In the instructor's breathing zone, the airborne mass concentration of copper was low (range = <1 µg/m3to 16 µg/m3), yet the ultrafine (nanoscale) particle number concentration increased substantially during each firing event. Ultrafine particles contained some copper and were complex in morphology and composition. The ventilation assessment found that the average velocity across all shooting lanes was acceptable compared to the recommended guideline (20% of the ideal 0.38 m/s (75 ft/min). However, uniform, downrange airflow pattern requirements were not met. These results suggest that the mass-based occupational exposure limits, as applied to this environment, may not be protective enough to eliminate health complaints reported by instructors whose full-time job involves training personnel on weapons that fire lead-free frangible ammunition. Using an ultrafine particle counter appears to be an alternative method of assessing ventilation effectiveness in removing ultrafine particulate produced during firing events. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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