Global Impacts of Military Munitions Disposed at Sea

Sea disposed munitions and unexploded ordnance, collectively referred to as Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC) have become a topic of global concern. The legacy of a century of global conflict has led to the accumulation of MEC in coastal and deep ocean locations worldwide. Increasing use of the ocean and shallows seas (e.g., for commercial fishing, or the deployment of infrastructure for off-shore renewable energy), has resulted in more frequent interactions between humans and toxic MEC materials.

Volume highlights include:

- Developing methods to effectively and cost-efficiently detect MEC
- Document the mobility and burial of MEC on a global scale
- Estimate the fate and transport of chemical contaminants, and monitor the long-term effects of sea disposal
- Historical insights with use of innovative technological advances 

Global Impacts of Military Munitions Disposed at Sea will be a valuable resource for researchers in academia, government agencies, and private industry who are working to understand and potentially mitigate the effects of MEC throughout the global ocean. This volume will be a valuable reference guide for researchers in oceanography, ecology, coastal science, aquatic marine science, biogeochemistry, earth and environmental science.

1. Introduction

1.1.   Historic context concerning military munitions and the underwater environment (Editorial Team)

1.1.1.      Testing

1.1.2.      Training

1.1.3.      Manufacturing

1.1.4.      Coastal defense

1.1.5.      Combat

1.1.6.      Sea disposal

1.1.7.      Distribution and logistics sites (e.g., explosive anchorages, docks)

1.1.8.      Accidents

1.2.   Types of munitions materials in the underwater environment

1.3.   Regulatory framework

1.4.   Significant known sites

1. Munitions Background and Current State-of-the-Art (Editorial Team)

2.1.   Explosives hazards

2.1.1.      Human impacts

2.1.2.      Ecological impacts (e.g., coral, marine mammals)

2.2.   Corrosion

2.3.   Dissolution

2.4.   Zone of influence

2.5.   Fate and transport of munitions constituents

2.5.1.      Explosives

2.5.2.      Metals

2.5.3.      Chemical agents

2.5.4.      Smokes

2.5.5.      Incendiary

2.5.6.      Riot control

2.6.   Toxicity of munitions constituents

2.6.1.      Explosives

2.6.2.      Metals

2.6.3.      Chemical agents

2.6.4.      Smokes

2.6.5.      Incendiary

2.6.6.      Riot control

2.7.   Modeling

2.8.   Tools for site characterization

3. Baltic Sea (Jacek Be³dowski)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

4. North Sea/Skagerrak (Jacek Be³dowski and CHEMSEA partners)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

5. United Kingdom/Beaufort Dyke (unconfirmed)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

6. Mediterranean/Adriatic (Sandro Carniel)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

7. Russia (Vadim Paka – unconfirmed)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

8. Halifax/Canada (Terry Long - unconfirmed)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

9. U.S. Great Lakes (Carter DuVal)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

10.  U.S. East Coast (Geoff Carton and Carter DuVal)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

11.  Caribbean Sea (Diane Wehner - unconfirmed)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

12.  Gulf of Mexico (Naill Slowey - unconfirmed)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

13.  U.S. West Coast (Peter Brewer – unconfirmed)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

14.  Hawaii (Margo Edwards)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

15.  Australia (Colin Trinder)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

16.  Japan (Joseph Asahina– unconfirmed)

• Setting (Environmental conditions)
• Explosive hazards
• Human health risks
• Ecological risks

17.  Recommendations for Future Studies (Editorial Team)

17.1.                    Explosives hazards

17.2.                    Corrosion

17.3.                    Dissolution

17.4.                    Zone of influence

17.5.                    Fate and transport of munitions constituents

17.6.                    Toxicity of munitions constituents

17.7.                    Modeling