Environmental and Health Effects Review for Obscurant Fog Oil
2006
Driver, C. J. | Ligotke, M. W. | Downs, J. L. | Tiller, B. L. | Poston, T. M.
The health and environmental effects of fog oil smoke were reviewed and compared to predicted levels of fog oil materiel in the field during typical testing and training scenarios. Fog oil dispersion and deposition for simulated mechanical vaporization/condensation releases were determined using a modified Gaussian atmospheric plume-dispersion model. Human health risks include respiratory discomfort and skin irritation; however, with appropriate respiratory and skin protection, SGF-2 poses no toxic threat to human health during typical test and training exposures. Fog oil is moderately harmful, either chemically or physically, to plants and animals and can accumulate in food chains. Waterfowl are particularly vulnerable to adverse physical and chemical effects of lubricating oils and experience reproductive dysfunction at relatively low levels of exposure. However, specific information on SGF-2 impacts on avian or mammalian wildlife is lacking. The volatile nature of fog oil suggests that any impacts would be rapidly attenuated in the environment. Also, the area of impact under typical testing and training scenarios would be small and no terrestrial population/community structure changes are anticipated from its use. Aquatic systems appear to be the most vulnerable to fog oil toxicity and SGF-2 deposition on aquatic systems should be avoided.
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