Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.5
2.7
Journals
Applied Sciences
Special Issues
Shooting and Military Activities: A Holistic Approach from Source, Contamination...
share announcement

Shooting and Military Activities: A Holistic Approach from Source, Contamination and Remediation

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2023) | Viewed by 8307

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Andres Rodriguez-Seijo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CIIMAR and Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
Interests: agricultural; earthworms; microplastic; potentially toxic elements; military
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Peter Sanderson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
Interests: environmental science;soil chemistry; lead; bioavailability
Prof. Dr. Valentina V. Pidlisnyuk

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of the Environmental Chemistry&Technology, Faculty of Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyne University in Usti nad Labem, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic
Interests: soil science; soil amendments; phytotechnology with biomass production
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The sites where military activities were performed in the past or present are widely spread in Eastern and Central Europe and the USA. Civilian shooting ranges, warfare areas, and military training camps are well-known land degradation hotspots along with territories of former airports, tank polygons, and parking lots. Those locations are often contaminated by trace elements (TEs), oil, and xenobiotics, and sometimes unknowns, which negatively affect soil and water resources, decrease biodiversity, and pose significant health risks. Civilian and military activities cause additional habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss.

Several physical, chemical, and biological processes are traditionally applied to remediate former and active civilian and military sites. The most common have been soil washing, solidification/stabilization, chemical oxidation or reduction, excavation and off-site treatment or storage at a more appropriate site (‘dig and dump’), and incineration. These engineering approaches are extremely expensive; hence, alternative methods for in situ remediation of contaminated soils have been developed. These include phytoextraction (growing plants that accumulate high concentrations of an element in shoots for removal from the field) and phytostabilization (sequestration in roots, which may include adding soil amendments to convert soil elements in excess into forms with much lower phytoavailability and bioavailability so that they no longer pose a risk to the environment and human health). The combination of bioremediation and phytoremediation is proposed to revitalize post-military localities, particularly those contaminated by oil products or mixtures of organic and non-organic contaminants. A holistic approach has to be proposed for successful revitalization of the military areas, covering ecology, toxicology, chemistry, soil science, and environmental health, including animal health.

The current Special Issue will cover broad framework studies related to aquatic and terrestrial systems: i) contamination and risk assessment; ii) ecotoxicology; iii) impacts of military contamination on human health and biodiversity; and iv) mitigation measures applied to military sites  (phytoremediation, phytotechnology, bioremediation; nanomaterials, etc.).

Research focused on less-studied topics (e.g., chemical warfare agents, explosive military weapons, hydrocarbons, and oil contamination, etc.) is warmly welcomed. In addition, reviews and research papers, theoretical and practical contributions, and implemented case studies are welcome. All submissions will be subjected to a peer-review process before publication.

Dr. Andres Rodriguez-Seijo
Dr. Peter Sanderson
Prof. Dr. Valentina V. Pidlisnyuk
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • military impact
  • environmental health
  • shooting ranges
  • soil contamination
  • water
  • ecotoxicology
  • trace elements
  • organics
  • mitigation measures

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

10 pages, 680 KiB  
Communication
Can Isotopes Be Used as Lead Tracers in Shooting-Range Soils?
by Andrés Rodríguez-Seijo, Knut Endre Sjåstad and Vladislav Chrastný
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8803; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12178803 - 01 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1362
Abstract
Lead isotopes have been widely used to assess the sources of Pb in the soil environment since lead isotopes ratios have a specific signature that allows us to use them as environmental tracers. However, some lead sources are difficult to be identified. This [...] Read more.
Lead isotopes have been widely used to assess the sources of Pb in the soil environment since lead isotopes ratios have a specific signature that allows us to use them as environmental tracers. However, some lead sources are difficult to be identified. This article contains the lead isotope data from soils and shot pellets collected in an abandoned shooting range (NW Spain). Twelve soil and three-shot pellet samples were randomly collected and analyzed using MC-ICP-MS. The isotope ratios are shown, and analyses proved that Pb originated predominantly from the used shot pellets. Contaminated soils exhibited an isotopic composition (206Pb/207Pb, 208Pb/204Pb, 206Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/206Pb) close to some shot pellets from different manufacturers. These results offer new, valuable data for other researchers working on lead contamination research and the identification sources of Pb for adjacent areas to shooting-range facilities and for wildlife ecotoxicology. Still, the use of several ammunitions derived from different sources, such as recycled Pb, showed that it is hard to identify the lead source and these kinds of facilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shooting and Military Activities: A Holistic Approach from Source, Contamination and Remediation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1809 KiB  
Article
Physical Hazards in Aepyceros melampus Carcasses Killed for Meat Purposes by Aerial and Thoracic Shots
by Davies Veli Nkosi, Johan Leon Bekker, Luzyl Amely Gower, Marie Van der Watt and Louwrens Christiaan Hoffman
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(14), 6861; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12146861 - 07 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1658
Abstract
Physical hazards, such as bullet particles and bone fragments, in wild meat could be introduced by processes applied whilst killing game meat animals. These hazards may pose a health risk to non-suspecting consumers and must therefore be identified, evaluated and removed from meat [...] Read more.
Physical hazards, such as bullet particles and bone fragments, in wild meat could be introduced by processes applied whilst killing game meat animals. These hazards may pose a health risk to non-suspecting consumers and must therefore be identified, evaluated and removed from meat and meat products. The extent of dispersion of these hazards in carcasses has not been sufficiently investigated with respect to game meat safety. This study aims to describe and quantify the occurrence of these hazards in animals shot by aerial (helicopter) shotgun targeting the head and higher neck region (n = 12) and single-projectile/free-bullet rifle shots targeting the thorax region (n = 36) of impala killed for meat consumption. To quantify the occurrence, particle sizes and dispersion surface of bullet fragments and bone splinters in the forequarters, radiographs were taken from top to bottom (dorsal ventral) and from the side (lateral) in the sequence of the skull, neck and forequarters. A t-test (p < 0.05) was conducted to compare the association of averages from the killing methods with the occurrences of bullet fragments and bone splinters. Bullet particles and bone splinters of significant sizes were introduced by the killing methods adopted. The results show a high incidence of harmful bullet particle and bone splinter sizes from the rifle thorax shots (p = 0.005). The dispersion of both physical hazards could cover a wide distance of >332 mm between particles on hunted game meat animals. Game meat animal killing methods with a rifle targeting the chest cavity should be refined and implemented. These should include the selection of bullets less prone to fragmentation, and compliance with regulated game meat animal-killing protocols, including regulating the placement of shots to allow only head or high neck shots for game meat animals slaughtered/culled for human consumption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shooting and Military Activities: A Holistic Approach from Source, Contamination and Remediation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1874 KiB  
Article
Airborne and Dermal Collection Methods of Gunshot Residue for Toxicity Studies
by Samuel Cole Smith, Oscar Beau Black and Courtney Roper
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4423; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12094423 - 27 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1798
Abstract
Gunshot residue (GSR) has potential negative health effects on humans as a result of inhalation and dermal exposure to the chemical and physical characteristics of GSR such as Pb, Sb, Ba, nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, and particulate size fraction. Filter (size selective) and double-sided tape [...] Read more.
Gunshot residue (GSR) has potential negative health effects on humans as a result of inhalation and dermal exposure to the chemical and physical characteristics of GSR such as Pb, Sb, Ba, nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, and particulate size fraction. Filter (size selective) and double-sided tape (non-size selective) samples collected airborne GSR during single and triple firing of a 0.22 caliber revolver. Dermal exposures were considered using hand swabs and de-leading wipes, designed to remove the heavy metals. The samples underwent analysis to investigate physical (morphology, size distribution, zeta potential), chemical (black carbon and element concentrations), and potential to induce oxidative stress (oxidative potential via the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay). All sample types detected Pb concentrations higher than national ambient air standards. The de-leading wipes reduced the metal content on the hands of the shooter for Pb (15.57 ± 12.99 ppb and 3.13 ± 4.95 ppb). Filter samples provided health relevant data for airborne PM2.5 for all of the analysis methods except for GSR morphology. This work identified collection and analysis methods for GSR in an outdoor setting, providing protocols and considerations for future toxicological studies related to inhalation and dermal exposures to particulate GSR. Future studies should investigate the influence of meteorological factors on GSR exposure in an outdoor setting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shooting and Military Activities: A Holistic Approach from Source, Contamination and Remediation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1001 KiB  
Article
Impact of Plant Growth Regulators to Development of the Second Generation Energy Crop Miscanthus × giganteus Produced Two Years in Marginal Post-Military Soil
by Valentina Pidlisnyuk, Tatyana Stefanovska, Olexander Zhukov, Artem Medkow, Pavlo Shapoval, Vitalii Stadnik and Martyn Sozanskyi
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(2), 881; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12020881 - 15 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2288
Abstract
The impact of the plant growth regulators (PGRs) Stimpo, Regoplant, and Charkor on the production of the second-generation energy crop Miscanthus × giganteus on marginal post-military soil was investigated during two vegetation seasons. The land, previously a tank training polygon, has not been [...] Read more.
The impact of the plant growth regulators (PGRs) Stimpo, Regoplant, and Charkor on the production of the second-generation energy crop Miscanthus × giganteus on marginal post-military soil was investigated during two vegetation seasons. The land, previously a tank training polygon, has not been in use since 1990 and has become marginal. Biological parameters (stem, shoot, and root lengths) and dry biomass values were evaluated in relation to the applied treatments. The multivariate general linear model (M-GLM) results showed a positive influence of Charkor on M. × giganteus development; the effect was markedly higher in the second year of vegetation. The impact of Stimpo and Regoplant was less noticeable; nevertheless, certain combinations of treatments showed satisfactory results. The M-GLM approach detected the inter-influence of the main factors of the production process, i.e., PGRs, soil, and year of growing. The results showed the predominant influence of year, PGRs and combined factor PGRs × year on the biological parameters; the other studied factors and their combinations were not as effective. Further research should focus on verifying the field-scale results for the M. × giganteus plantation established in a post-military area and compare the lab and field studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shooting and Military Activities: A Holistic Approach from Source, Contamination and Remediation)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop