Purpose:
The firing of lead-bearing, small-caliber ammunition for military training, law enforcement, and sport is often a source of environmental pollution. On many Department of Defense (DoD) shooting ranges, soil and water contaminated by lead from small arms ranges are ingested by wildlife and are also a threat to human health and safety. Even indoor DoD ranges can pose a health threat when personnel fire weapons containing lead-bearing ammunition in an enclosed space. DoD is currently looking into avenues for addressing the current health and environmental threats from these activities and reducing future contamination. A significant reduction in environmental pollution can be achieved through the development of ammunition projectiles composed of non-hazardous, economically recyclable materials. Ammunition formed with substances, such as tungsten and tin, may provide the solution to this problem. The objective of this project is to provide the DoD with small-caliber combat ammunition manufactured with lead-free projectiles. Description: This project tests the feasibility of utilizing nontoxic materials, such as tungsten and tin, to replace the lead projectile cores currently used in 5.56-mm ammunition. Continued efforts will produce a 5.56-mm lead-free projectile configuration and qualify the new cartridge as a replacement for the current M855 service round. Additional efforts will demonstrate nontoxic projectile alternatives for 9-mm ammunition and replace the lead-base filler in the .50-caliber M33 ball round. The development and evaluation of this nontoxic ammunition will examine all aspects of bullet design and materials selection. Benefits: Current methods for successfully dealing with the problems of ranges contaminated by lead from small arms ammunition can be costly and time-consuming. While promising remediation technologies exist, prevention of lead contamination through the use of nontoxic alternatives promises to save DoD time and money. Human health risks and environmental exposure to lead will also be dramatically minimized.
(Anticipated Project Completion - 2005) Principal Investigator:
Mr. Erik Hangeland
U.S. Army Environmental Center
Attn: SFIM-AEC-ETD
5179 Hoadley Road
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010
Telephone: (410) 436-6858
Fax: (410) 436-6836
E-mail: erik.hangeland@aec.apgea.army.mil | 
