This manuscript describes the distribution, fate and transport of tungsten used in training rounds at three small arms ranges at Camp Edwards on the
Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR), USA. Practice with tungsten/nylon
rounds began in 2000 subsequent to a 1997 US Environmental Protection
Agency ban on training with lead. Training with the tungsten rounds was halted in 2005 because of concerns regarding tungsten's environmental mobility and potential
toxicity. This study, therefore, examines how tungsten
partitions in the environment when fired on a small arms training
range. Soil sampling revealed surface soil concentrations, highest at
the berm face, up to 2080 mg/kg. Concentrations decreased rapidly with
depth—at least by an order of magnitude by 25 cm. Nonetheless, tungsten
concentrations remained above background to at least 150 cm. Pore-water
samples from lysimeters installed in berm areas revealed a
range of
concentrations (< 1–400 mg/L) elevated with respect to background
although there was no discernable trend with depth. Groundwater
monitoring well samples collected approximately 30 m below ground
surface showed tungsten (0.001–0.56 mg/L) attributable to range use.
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