Supervisors info:
«Αντωνιάδης Κωνσταντίνος»
«Γεωλόγος - Περιβαλλοντολόγος M.Sc,
P.G., C.P.»
Δρ. Λέκκας Ευθύμιος,
Καθηγητής Τμήμα Γεωλογίας & Γεωπεριβάλλοντος Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Δρ. Σ. Λόζιος
Καθηγητής Τμήμα Γεωλογίας & Γεωπεριβάλλοντος ΕΚΠΑ
Δρ. Β. Αντωνίου,
Επικ. Καθηγήτρια Τμήμα Γεωλογίας & Γεωπεριβάλλοντος ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Επιπτώσεις στη δημόσια υγεία και τα οικοσυστήματα, από τη χρήση πραγματικών πυρών, στο πλαίσιο στρατιωτικών δραστηριοτήτων και ασκήσεων.
Summary:
Soil has a close influence on the health and well-being of people. Depending on the pollution
of the soil, the effect on humans and the environment can be either positive or negative. The
role that soil plays in health is crucial since harmful substances pass through the food we eat
and the drinking water we drink.
People are exposed to soil materials either (i) by ingestion, (ii) by breathing (iii) by
absorption or skin penetration (Brevik. 2013). Ingestion can occur when consumption of raw
fruits, or vegetables, occurs without proper washing. (von Lindern et al., 2016 ). Hazardous
soil may provide essential nutrients, but leads to exposure to heavy metals, organic
chemicals or pathogens and in large quantities can cause intestinal obstruction (Henry &
Cring, 2013). Respiration involves the inhalation of soil materials. Some serious problems
are associated with inhalation, such as coccidioidomycosis (Bultman et al., 2005; Stockamp
& Thompson. 2016), acute inflammation of bronchial passages, chronic bronchitis,
emphysema, etc. Zosky et al., 2014), and mesothelioma from inhalation of natural asbestos
minerals from soil-derived dust (Buck et aI. 2016). Absorption or skin penetration can expose
a person to pathogens and soil chemicals (Brevik. 2013). During the use of live fire, in
military training, the terrain and environment is negatively disturbed.
In addition to training, other military operations and weapons that affect the environment
include bombs, gunfire, bombing, missile airstrikes and mines. Air strikes and bombs lead to
the migration of wildlife from their usual areas to human settlements.
This study aims to review all the scattered literature on soil contamination in areas where
military activities are present, focusing on (1) physical and chemical soil disturbances caused
by military activities, (2) the fate of military residues after their introduction into the soil and
subsequent site characterization, and (3) exposure assessment and human health risk
characterization of these soils. The contaminants included in the review fall into these
categories: PTEs; energy compounds (ECs: explosive and propellant compounds); and
chemical warfare agents (CWAs).
Literature covering the period 2010-2020 was searched for the thesis, as well as papers
covering the period before 2010.
Keywords: chemical warfare agents, energy compounds, human health risk
assessment, evidence of soil contamination
Keywords:
Keywords: chemical warfare agents, energy compounds, human health risk assessment, evidence of soil contamination
