Evaluation of Instructor and Range Officer Exposure to Emissions from Copper-Based Frangible Ammunition at a Military Firing Range

The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from a military firing range in North Dakota. The range managers submitted the request because of concern about instructor and range officer exposure to weapons emissions during qualification sessions inside the partially-enclosed firing range. We measured exposure to weapons emissions and assessed health symptoms related to the firing of copper-based ammunition that breaks into pieces on impact (known as frangible ammunition).