SAFETY
DANGEROUS WATERS T
A guide to mitigating the issue of unexploded ordnance
he oceans have long been used as dumping grounds for surplus munitions, particularly after World Wars
I and II. These munitions or UXO (unexploded ordnance), including both conventional explosives and chemical warfare agents, were disposed of in vast quantities. As they corrode, they leak hazardous chemicals into the marine environment, posing signifi cant risks to ecosystems and human health. This largely unknown crisis demands attention owing to its widespread implications for marine life and the food chain. The volume of UXO dumped into
oceans globally is staggering. Millions of tons of conventional and chemical UXO have been discarded across various sites, including the Baltic Sea, Arctic Ocean, North Sea, Japanese and the United States coastal waters. For instance, Norway (Skagerrak Strait), has around 168,000 tons of dumped chemical weapons. Russia’s Arctic seas contain approximately 150,000 tons of munitions, while Japan’s waters hold around 5,000 tons. These fi gures represent a fraction of the total, with
some estimates suggesting over 127 documented dump sites worldwide, and many more likely remaining undocumented.
TOXIC CHEMICALS RELEASED UXO submerged in the ocean is not inert and over time, exposure to seawater causes the metal casings to corrode, releasing toxic chemicals into the surrounding environment. These munitions contain hazardous explosive materials such as TNT, RDX, mustard gas, and sarin, as well as heavy metals like mercury, lead and arsenic. As they degrade, these chemicals leak into the ocean, contaminating the water and posing a signifi cant threat to both marine ecosystems and human populations. The rate of corrosion is infl uenced
by factors such as water temperature, salinity, depth and case thickness. Warmer waters accelerate the process, causing munitions to leak hazardous substances more quickly. Moreover, as munitions degrade, they can become more prone to spontaneous detonation, posing risks to both marine life and
human activities. The breakdown of munitions can
create harmful byproducts. For example, TNT degrades into even more toxic substances, such as ADNT and DNT, which have carcinogenic and genotoxic eff ects. These chemicals are absorbed by marine organisms, entering the food chain and causing harm to animals and humans alike. The leakage of toxic chemicals from
corroding munitions severely impacts marine ecosystems. These chemicals contaminate large areas of the ocean fl oor, making these environments uninhabitable for many species. Toxins aff ect organisms at every level of the food chain, from small fi lter feeders like mussels to larger predatory fi sh and marine mammals.
THE ISSUE OF BIOACCUMULATION A particularly concerning issue is bioaccumulation, where toxins build up in the tissues of marine organisms over time. Mussels, oysters, and other fi lter feeders living near munitions dump sites can absorb large amounts of toxic chemicals, rendering them
A particularly
concerning issue is bioaccumulation,
where toxins build up in the tissues of marine organisms over time
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