ABSTRACT
Much of the explosives contamination in the environment in the United States has resulted from manufacturing and load-assemble-package (LAP) processes conducted during and before World War II and the Korean conflict. Principal explosives waste products were 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-hexahydrotriazine (RDX), octahydro1,3,5,7-tetranitro-, 1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), and https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> N , 2,4 , 6 https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429080050/6559e41b-64b9-4256-96a3-5980cbb6d757/content/eq5923.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> , -tetranitro-N-methylaniline (tetryl). Waste disposal practices were governed more by convenience and explosives safety concerns than by environmental awareness. Waste waters from manufacture and from LAP operations were often discharged into sumps, runoff and/or percolation ditches, and lagoons. These practices have resulted in contamination of groundwater with explosives and their degradation products.
