Analysis and evaluation of the final products of reaction from explosives when shooting with handguns

According to the emission force of different firearms and kinds of ammuniti on, the characteristic reaction products per shot were determined under rep roducible conditions in a chemical laboratory. In a chamber, specially prod uced for these tests, handguns (long and short handguns) were fired with di fferent types of ammunition, gases and dust particles were collected and ba lanced and evaluated according to the different limit values as referred to in the technical rules applying to hazardous substances in Germany. Additi onally concentrations of hazardous reaction products near the rifleman and the supervisory staff in a closed rifle range, in which the ventilation con ditions were described exactly, were measured. Based on the results of our investigations, suggestions are made as to the minimum requirements for the formulations of explosives in munitions and ventilation techniques in clos ed ripe ranges to guarantee, that limit values as referred to in TRGS 900 ( technical rules applying to hazordous substances in Germany) are not exceed ed.