Table 4. Mass of nitroaromatics and nitramines in each surface snow
sample collected after the detonation of a PMA-2 land mine.
Mass recovered (g)
Sample
TNT
RDX
2,4-DNT 2-ADNT
4-ADNT
S-1E
0.22
1.03
<d
<d
<d
S-2E
2.62
0.31
<d
<d
<d
S-3E
17.43
4.08
<d
<d
<d
S-4E
8.85
2.30
0.75
<d
<d
S-5E
58.05
3.59
4.62
0.68
1.02
S-6E
6.24
0.47
3.16
0.32
0.30
S-7E
0.76
0.62
2.97
<d
<d
S-8C
0.88
27.31
3.53
<d
<d
S-1W
1.17
1.62
<d
<d
<d
S-2W
0.08
2.31
<d
<d
<d
S-3W
0.07
4.29
<d
<d
<d
S-4W
1.47
1.16
0.88
0.30
<d
S-1S
20.53
0.48
1.14
0.22
<d
S-2S
458
3.07
3.07
<d
<d
Total detected (g)* in
576
52.6
surface snow
Computed† (g) in
7890
721
surface snow
Crater (g)
0.88
0.00
48
5.29
3.01
Steel plate (g)
0.54
0.54
0.41
% of total recovered**
0.0079%
0.0056%
* Sum of analytes in all samples, which represents 7.3% of the total surface area
impacted by the detonation.
† Total mass of analytes computed by assuming the total detected in the 7.3%
sampled is representative of the total surface area impacted by the detonation.
** Total mass of analytes computed relative to amount present in land mine.
low to allow an estimate of recovery (Jenkins et al.
The total mass of the various nitroaromatics and nit-
2000).
ramines in the residues from each snow sample was
The percent of TNT remaining after detonation
obtained by adding the results of SOE1 and SOE2 analy-
appears to be greater for the PMA-2 mine than for either
ses to obtain the concentration in the water, multiplying
the concentration of each analyte in the water sample
rounds. However, only one mine was detonated and the
by the total volume of snowmelt produced, and adding
high variability found for the three mortar rounds deton-
the mass of analyte recovered from the soot. These val-
ated with C4 might be expected to be present for mine
ues are presented in Table 4. Because these samples
detonations as well. Thus it is impossible to draw a firm
represent about 7.3% of the total surface area impacted
conclusion on that score without additional experiments.
by the detonation, we estimated the total mass of resi-
Likewise, it appears that TNT and RDX are recovered
dues residing in the snow by multiplying the total found
in similar percentages for the mine detonation, whereas
in the surface snow samples by 100/7.3 (Table 4). To
RDX was recovered in much higher percentages than
obtain the total residue recovered, the mass of each
found in the crater snow sample and that recovered from
ations.
the steel plate were added (Table 4). The percent of the
Concentrations of nitroaromatics
mass explosive recovered relative to the mass present
and nitramines in surface snow
in the mine prior to detonation was then computed to
be 0.0079% for TNT and 0.0056% for RDX. In a pre-
Except for the crater snow sample, the concentra-
vious study, the percent recovery of RDX for three mor-
tions of these analytes in the surface snow samples on
a g/m2 basis were then obtained by dividing the mass
tar rounds detonated with C4 ranged from 0.00007% to
determined from analysis (in g) by the surface area
0.011% while the percent recovery for TNT ranged from
sampled (2.3 m2). The major nitroaromatics and nitra-
0.000001% to 0.00023% (Jenkins et al. 2000). Simi-
larly, for two mortar rounds that detonated on impact,
mines detected in these surface snow samples were
the RDX recovery was 0.00004% and 0.00009%,
2,4,6-TNT (TNT), RDX, and 2,4-DNT (Table 5). The
while the concentration of TNT in the snow was too
two monoamino transformation products of TNT (2-
5