ABSTRACT
Energetics is a class of compounds that includes explosives, pyrotechnics, and propellants. The predominant manufacturing and use of these substances is specic to the military, particularly in regard to training. Consequently, environmental contamination from the use of energetic compounds within the U.S. Department of Defense is widespread. Causes include practices associated with manufacturing, loading, and packing operations; testing/ring ranges; and demilitarization of outdated supplies. Explosives, such as 2,4,6-trinitritoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5-trinitrohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), are considerably more prevalent in environmental media given the nature of their use and source for contamination (e.g., through unexploded ordnance and production).
