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Aurell J, Holder AL, Gullett BK, Sowers TD, Weinstein J, Kariher P, McNesby K, Kim YH, Gilmour MI. Gas and particle emissions from rifle and pistol firing. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135196. [PMID: 39018594 PMCID: PMC11459210 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Emissions were sampled from firing an M4 carbine rifle and a M9 (military issue of Beretta 75 FS 9 mm pistol) to develop sampling methods and assess potential exposures and range contamination issues. Breech and muzzle emissions were sampled from the rifle when firing M855A1 ammunition (lead (Pb)-free slugs) in single- and triple-shot burst mode and from single pistol shots when firing 9 mm XM1152 ammunition (not Pb-free). Emissions were sampled for carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, particulate matter by size, polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons, and volatile organics. Analyses on the particles included elemental composition, size distribution, carbon composition (black, total, organic, and elemental carbon), and particle composition and morphology. Emission concentrations from both the rifle and pistol were characterized by CO/CO2 ratios between, approximately, 1/1 and 2/1, respectfully, indicating incomplete carbon oxidation. The initial particle size distribution was dominated in number by particles smaller than 40 nm but the high particle concentrations led to rapid agglomeration. The abundance of CO and metals of inhalable particle size are noteworthy and indicate that further assessment of exposure would determine potential inhalation health hazards, particularly in indoor firing ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Aurell
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (E343-04), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
| | - Amara L Holder
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (E343-04), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Brian K Gullett
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (E343-04), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Tyler D Sowers
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (E343-04), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Jason Weinstein
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Peter Kariher
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (E343-04), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Kevin McNesby
- US Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Rd, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA
| | - Yong Ho Kim
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - M Ian Gilmour
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
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Chemistry and lung toxicity of particulate matter emitted from firearms. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20722. [PMID: 36456643 PMCID: PMC9715551 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24856-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Smoke emissions produced by firearms contain hazardous chemicals, but little is known if their properties change depending on firearm and ammunition type and whether such changes affect toxicity outcomes. Pulmonary toxicity was assessed in mice exposed by oropharyngeal aspiration to six different types of smoke-related particulate matter (PM) samples; (1) handgun PM, (2) rifle PM, (3) copper (Cu) particles (a surrogate for Cu in the rifle PM) with and without the Cu chelator penicillamine, (4) water-soluble components of the rifle PM, (5) soluble components with removal of metal ions, and (6) insoluble components of the rifle PM. Gun firing smoke PM was in the respirable size range but the chemical composition varied with high levels of Pb in the handgun and Cu in the rifle smoke. The handgun PM did not induce appreciable lung toxicity at 4 and 24 h post-exposure while the rifle PM significantly increased lung inflammation and reduced lung function. The same levels of pure Cu particles alone and the soluble components from the rifle fire PM increased neutrophil numbers but did not cause appreciable cellular damage or lung function changes when compared to the negative (saline) control. Penicillamine treated rifle PM or Cu, slightly reduced lung inflammation and injury but did not improve the lung function decrements. Chelation of the soluble metal ions from the rifle fire PM neutralized the lung toxicity while the insoluble components induced the lung toxicity to the same degree as the rifle PM. The results show that different firearm types can generate contrasting chemical spectra in their emissions and that the rifle PM effects were mostly driven by water-insoluble components containing high levels of Cu. These findings provide better knowledge of hazardous substances in gun firing smoke and their potential toxicological profile.
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Domoradzki T, Grochowski P, Jaśkiewicz A, Pająk B. Ultrasensitive analysis of genetic instability related to chemical exposure. J Appl Genet 2021; 63:305-313. [PMID: 34967917 PMCID: PMC8979864 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-021-00677-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Our concerns have been raised about whether prolonged exposure to ammunition-related chemicals could correlate with genomic instability predisposing to lung carcinogenesis. The group of professional soldiers engaged in routine ammunition analysis and its explosive properties testing. To assess the presence of an innate genetic profile, DNA isolated from swabs was analyzed with LungCarta and HS Lung Panels and MassARRAY Analyzer 4 mass spectrometry. The presence of new somatic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was detected with liquid biopsy technique and circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) isolation, which was further analyzed with UltraSeek Lung Panel. Both genetic profiles obtained for each individual were compared. Genetic analysis revealed that in professional soldiers with long-term exposure to ammunition-related toxic chemicals, new SNPs in genes related to lung carcinogenesis are present. The preliminary data indicate that using modern molecular techniques could be a valuable tool for monitoring the genome instability in context of occupational risk of harmful volatile toxic compounds and improving personnel safety. The analyzed group will be further enlarged, and follow-up studies will be continued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Domoradzki
- Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Kozielska 4, 01-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Grochowski
- Kawaska Sp. z o. o., Zaczarowanej Róży 1, 05-540, Zalesie Górne, Poland
| | - Anna Jaśkiewicz
- Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Kozielska 4, 01-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Pająk
- Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Kozielska 4, 01-089, Warsaw, Poland.
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Skalny AV, Aschner M, Bobrovnitsky IP, Chen P, Tsatsakis A, Paoliello MMB, Buha Djordevic A, Tinkov AA. Environmental and health hazards of military metal pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 201:111568. [PMID: 34174260 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An increasing body of literature has demonstrated that armed conflicts and military activity may contribute to environmental pollution with metals, although the existing data are inconsistent. Therefore, in this paper, we discuss potential sources of military-related metal emissions, environmental metal contamination, as well as routes of metal exposure and their health hazards in relation to military activities. Emission of metals into the environment upon military activity occurs from weapon residues containing high levels of particles containing lead (Pb; leaded ammunition), copper (Cu; unleaded), and depleted uranium (DU). As a consequence, military activity results in soil contamination with Pb and Cu, as well as other metals including Cd, Sb, Cr, Ni, Zn, with subsequent metal translocation to water, thus increasing the risk of human exposure. Biomonitoring studies have demonstrated increased accumulation of metals in plants, invertebrates, and vertebrate species (fish, birds, mammals). Correspondingly, military activity is associated with human metal exposure that results from inhalation or ingestion of released particles, as well as injuries with subsequent metal release from embedded fragments. It is also notable that local metal accumulation following military injury may occur even without detectable fragments. Nonetheless, data on health effects of military-related metal exposures have yet to be systematized. The existing data demonstrate adverse neurological, cardiovascular, and reproductive outcomes in exposed military personnel. Moreover, military-related metal exposures also result in adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in children living within adulterated territories. Experimental in vivo and in vitro studies also demonstrated toxic effects of specific metals as well as widely used metal alloys, although laboratory data report much wider spectrum of adverse effects as compared to epidemiological studies. Therefore, further epidemiological, biomonitoring and laboratory studies are required to better characterize military-related metal exposures and their underlying mechanisms of their adverse toxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatoly V Skalny
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; KG Razumovsky Moscow State University of Technologies and Management, Moscow, Russia
| | - Michael Aschner
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Igor P Bobrovnitsky
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; Centre for Strategic Planning of FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Pan Chen
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Aristidis Tsatsakis
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Monica M B Paoliello
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Aleksandra Buha Djordevic
- Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Alexey A Tinkov
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; Laboratory of Ecobiomonitoring and Quality Control, Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia.
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Elfsmark L, Ekstrand-Hammarström B, Forsgren N, Lejon C, Hägglund L, Wingfors H. Characterization of toxicological effects of complex nano-sized metal particles using in vitro human cell and whole blood model systems. J Appl Toxicol 2021; 42:203-215. [PMID: 34050537 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Metal oxide fumes form at high temperatures, for instance, during welding or firing ammunition. Inhalation exposure to high levels of airborne metal oxide particles can cause metal fume fever, cardiovascular effects, and lung damage in humans, but the associated underlying pathological mechanisms are still not fully understood. Using human alveolar epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells, and whole blood model systems, we aimed to elucidate the short-term effects of well-characterized metal particles emitted while firing pistol ammunition. Human lung epithelial cells exposed to gunshot smoke particles (0.1-50 μg/ml) produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 8 (IL-8), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)) that activate and recruit immune cells. Particles comprising high copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) content activated human endothelial cells via a non-ROS-mediated mechanism that triggered immune activation (IL-8, GM-CSF), leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1)), and secretion of regulators of the acute-phase protein synthesis (interleukin 6 (IL-6)). In human whole blood, metal oxides in gunshot smoke demonstrated intrinsic properties that activated platelets (release of soluble cluster of differentiation 40 ligand (sCD40L), platelet-derived growth factor B-chain homodimer(PDGF-BB), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)) and blood coagulation and induced concomitant release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from blood leukocytes that further orchestrate thrombogenesis. The model systems applied provide useful tools for health risk assessment of particle exposures, but more studies are needed to further elucidate the mechanisms of metal fume fever and to evaluate the potential risk of long-term cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Elfsmark
- CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Nina Forsgren
- CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Christian Lejon
- CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lars Hägglund
- CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Håkan Wingfors
- CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, Umeå, Sweden
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