Analysis and assessment of reaction products from explosives on shooting with hand guns at shooting ranges

Status:

completed 11/1997

Aims:

Noise and hazardous substances in the air represent considerable hazards to sports marksmen, instructors and shooting range personnel. Goal: determination the health hazard based on various parameters (ventilation, type of arms and ammunition, shoot frequency); derivation of protective measures

Activities/Methods:

Laboratory tests; measurement and analysis of dangerous substance emission; field measurements

Results:

Dangerous gases and particles (e.g. carbon monoxide and zinc) appear in concentrations which have no bearing on work protection, with the exception of lead, the concentration of which in the air is up to 19 times greater than the MAK-value 0.1 mg/m³. Ammunition, type of weapon, shoot sequence, pause frequency and deficiencies in ventilation and air-conditioning systems (performance, flow profile, air exchange rate) contribute to the cause of this excess. Noise assessment levels are above the limit values, the ear protectors used are inadequate.

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