Helse- og miljørisikovurdering av militære røyksatser

The aim of this study was to collect and review information about known military obscurants in order to rank their relative hazard in respect to human health and the environment. The obscurants included in the study were HC-smoke (hexachloroethane/zinc), white phosphorus, red phosphorus, titanium tetrachloride, and titanium dioxide. Risk Quotients (RQ) were calculated for each obscurant. A RQ indicates a risk if the RQ >1, and no risk if the RQ < 1. RQs were calculated for the following aspects; inhalation of smoke, oral uptake of soil (humans), intake of edible plants (humans), contaminated water (aquatic organisms), and risk of fire (autoignition). The obscurants were ranked as follows in respect to inherent environmental hazard; HC-smoke> white phosphorus > titanium tetrachloride > red phosphorus > titanium dioxide, where the most hazardous was HC-smoke. The most significant environmental aspect for all obscurants was inhalation of smoke by military personnel. Military personnel should therefore avoid smoke exposure. Contamination of soil seemed to be of less concern, except for white phosphorus that historically has poisoned birds in wetlands. HC-smoke contains zinc, and deposition of zinc on plants and water can be a problem, since zinc can have an effect on herbivores and aquatic organisms. White phosphorus is the only smoke with the property of auto-ignition at outdoor temperatures. However, red phosphorus may reignite after fire is extinguished.