Institute of Engineering and Sustainable Development, University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony, Acarape, Brazil.
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology and Environment; Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2022;57(6):427-435. doi: 10.1080/10934529.2022.2072152. Epub 2022 May 10.
This study's aim was to determine the presence, as well as to evaluate the health and environmental impacts, of chemical elements from firearm shots during shooter practice at outdoor shooting ranges, both in the environment and on the shooters' hands. Two high-precision devices were used for measuring suspended particles that are released during discharge of Taurus PT 100 .40 caliber pistols. The analysis of collected data allowed the identification of specific distribution patterns of samples that were adsorbed. Moreover, samples were collected from the opisthenar area of the hand to investigate both the occurrence and deposition of particles and chemical elements through scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The results indicate that copper, lead, and zinc concentration profiles will be able to delimit and reveal more precise details regarding shots made with nontoxic ammunition (NTA). In particular, the residual graphic analysis indicated that the majority of metal deposited in the shooter's hand is zinc. Further, the metals barium and lead also were detected. Due to the exposure to these elements, it could be concluded that engineering controls and administrative management should be sought in order to avoid human overexposure and environmental release of these airborne toxic metals.
本研究旨在确定射击者在户外射击场练习射击时，枪支射击所产生的化学元素的存在情况，并评估其对健康和环境的影响，既包括环境方面，也包括射击者手部方面。本研究使用了两种高精度设备来测量 Taurus PT 100.40 口径手枪射击时释放的悬浮颗粒。对收集到的数据进行分析，识别出了吸附样品的特定分布模式。此外，还从手掌的小鱼际区域采集了样本，通过扫描电子显微镜结合能量色散光谱（SEM-EDS）研究了颗粒和化学元素的存在和沉积情况。结果表明，铜、铅和锌的浓度分布能够对使用无毒弹药（NTA）进行的射击进行界定和更精确地分析。特别是，残余图形分析表明，沉积在射击者手部的大部分金属是锌。此外，还检测到钡和铅等金属。由于接触到这些元素，因此可以得出结论，应寻求工程控制和管理措施，以避免人体过度暴露和这些空气传播毒性金属向环境中的释放。
