Explosives compounds from sea-dumped relic munitions accumulate in marine biota

Beck, Aaron J.; Gledhill, Martha; Kampmeier, Mareike; Feng, Chude; Schlösser, Christian; Greinert, Jens; Achterberg, Eric P.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151266

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The risks of sea-dumped munitions to both the marine environment and the human seafood consumer has previously considered by projects from the Baltic Sea region (project UDEMM: https://udemm.geomar.de/de and project DAIMON: https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/daimon/), (Beck et al, 2022;Maser and Strehse, 2021;Schuster et al, 2021;Maser and Strehse, 2020;Strehse et al, 2020;Koske et al, 2020;Appel et al, 2018;Strehse et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7B). Usually, the parent compound TNT undergoes metabolism to 2-ADNT and 4-ADNT when ingested via predatory diet (Beck et al, 2022;Schuster et al, 2021;Strehse et al, 2017). However, the fact that the filet contained higher concentrations of TNT than the bile hints at an alternative route of absorbance in the fish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent report revealed the deterioration of wrecks over time (Landquist et al, 2017). Thus, in addition to the steel components of the vessels (required for stability of the wrecks), the munition casings on these ships are corroding and releasing their toxic chemicals into the marine environment (Beck et al, 2022;Appel et al, 2018;Strehse et al, 2017), thereby posing the same risk as sea-dumped mines, bombs, and torpedo heads to the marine environment and/or the human seafood consumer (Ahvo et al, 2020;Missiaen et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Warship wrecks and their munition cargos as a threat to the marine environment and humans: The V 1302 “JOHN MAHN” from World War II

Maser¹,

Bünning²,

Brenner

et al. 2023

Science of The Total Environment

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Warship wrecks and their munition cargos as a threat to the marine environment and humans: The V 1302 “JOHN MAHN” from World War II

Maser¹,

Bünning²,

Brenner

et al. 2023

Science of The Total Environment

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“…Recently, Beck et al [ 31 ] provided a comprehensive study on the accumulation of munitions compounds in field-collected biota. In the southwest Baltic Sea, ammunition-related compounds were detected in more than 98% of organisms collected (median ~1 ng/g).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Release of Ammunition-Related Compounds from a Dutch Marine Dump Site

Otter¹,

Pröfrock

Bünning³

et al. 2023

Toxics

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After World War II, large amounts of ammunition were dumped in surface waters worldwide, potentially releasing harmful and toxic compounds to the environment. To study their degradation, ammunition items dumped in the Eastern Scheldt in The Netherlands were surfaced. Severe damage due to corrosion and leak paths through the casings were observed, making the explosives in the ammunition accessible to sea water. Using novel techniques, the concentrations of ammunition-related compounds in the surrounding seabed and in the seawater were analyzed at 15 different locations. In the direct vicinity of ammunition, elevated concentrations of ammunition-related compounds (both metals and organic substances) were found. Concentrations of energetic compounds ranged from below the limit of detection (LoD) up to the low two-digit ng/L range in water samples, and from below the LoD up to the one-digit ng/g dry weight range in sediment samples. Concentrations of metals were found up to the low microgram/L range in water and up the low ng/g dry weight in sediment. However, even though the water and sediment samples were collected as close to the ammunition items as possible, the concentrations of these compounds were low and, as far as available, no quality standards or limits were exceeded. The presence of fouling, the low solubility of the energetic compounds, and dilution by the high local water current were concluded to be the main causes for the absence of high concentrations of ammunition-related compounds. As a conclusion, these new analytical methods should be applied to continuously monitor the Eastern Scheldt munitions dump site.

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“…It is thus clear that even in the case of the decomposition of uranium-containing munitions, it is possible to for the ecosystem to fully from radioactive substances, although this requires some time. The study by Beck et al (2022) examines the damage from munitions that have been present in the coastal waters of the southwestern Baltic Sea since the two world wars. Scientists claim that from explosives contained in munitions, marine biota accumulates toxic elements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of munitions corrosion processes on groundwater contamination and techniques for their safe and cost-effective disposal: A case study of a village

Semenenkо¹,

Trehubenko²,

Onofriichuk³

et al. 2022

Scientific Horizons

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The relevance of the study lies in the fact that the ammunition that has entered the groundwater (deeper than 250 m), as a result of its disposal, poses serious threats to the entire Donetsk region water area. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of munitions corrosion on the aquatic environment and to consider the most effective and environmentally friendly methods of disposal. To conduct the research following scientific methods were used: methods of analysis, deduction, synthesis, and formalization method. It was found that each method of ammunition disposal led to a negative impact on the environment both in the short and long term. The literature of recent developments in munitions corrosion and munitions recycling was analyzed. It was summarized that there was an urgent need to introduce a system for cleaning up contaminated territories, to take control over the implementation of legislative environmental standards, to use new biological methods for elimination of the consequences of the impact of ammunition on the ecosystem of the region, and to switch to more environmentally friendly types of weapons. The practical value of the article is in search of ways to prevent an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe in the war zone in the East of Ukraine

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Explosives compounds from sea-dumped relic munitions accumulate in marine biota

Cited by 18 publications

References 23 publications

Warship wrecks and their munition cargos as a threat to the marine environment and humans: The V 1302 “JOHN MAHN” from World War II

Warship wrecks and their munition cargos as a threat to the marine environment and humans: The V 1302 “JOHN MAHN” from World War II

Release of Ammunition-Related Compounds from a Dutch Marine Dump Site

Impact of munitions corrosion processes on groundwater contamination and techniques for their safe and cost-effective disposal: A case study of a village

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