US EPA

2215398 

Journal Article 

Emission factors for gases and particle bound substances produced by firing lead-free small caliber ammunition 

Wingfors, H; Svensson, K; Hägglund, L; Hedenstierna, S; Magnusson, R 

2014 

Yes 

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
ISSN: 1545-9624
EISSN: 1545-9632 

11 

5 

282-291 

English 

24188168 

10.1080/15459624.2013.858821 

WOS:000334265800005 

ABSTRACT Lead-free ammunition is becoming increasingly popular because of the environmental and human health issues associated with the use of leaded ammunition. However, there is a lack of data on the emissions produced by firing such ammunition. We report emission factors for toxic gases and particle-bound compounds produced by firing lead-free ammunition in a test chamber. Carbon monoxide, ammonia and hydrogen cyanide levels within the chamber were analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, while total suspended particles and respirable particles were determined gravimetrically. The metal content of the particulate emissions was determined and the associated organic compounds were characterized in detail using a method based on thermal desorption coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The particulate matter (∼30 mg/round) consisted primarily of metals such as Cu, Zn, and Fe along with soot arising from incomplete combustion. Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic aromatic compounds such as carbazole, quinoline and phenazine were responsible for some of the 25 most significant chromatographic peaks, together with PAHs, diphenylamine and phthalates . Emission factors were determined for PAHs and oxygenated PAHs; the latter were less abundant in the gun smoke particles than in domestic dust and diesel combustion smoke. This may be due to the oxygen-deficient conditions that occur when the gun is fired. By using an electrical low pressure impactor, it was demonstrated that more than 90% of the particles produced immediately after firing the weapon had diameters of less than 30 nm, and so most of the gun smoke particles belonged the nanoparticle regime. 

shooting test chamber; gunshot particles; bullet; ATD-GC-MS; ultrafine