Programmatic Life Cycle Environmental Assessment for Smoke/Obscurants. Volume 5. Dye/Colored Smokes

摘要

Colored smokes/dyes have been used extensively in the past to satisfy signaling and communication needs of the Armed Forces and will continue to be used as vital elements of the national defense posture. Associated with the need for colored smoke is the concern for noncarcinogenicity, nonmutagenicity, and minimal (reversible/nonincapacitating) toxicity to handling and user personnel and the environment. The environmental impacts and data relevant to the life cycle use of the standard dyes and the recommended replacement of safer dyes for future use are compiled in this report. With controlled distribution and use of the colored smokes, that is adherence to safety aspects and regulations and the implementation of suggested mitigation, minimal adverse impacts to the quality of the human environment is predicted, and the conclusion is that proposed on-going smoke programs will not significantly affect the quality of the environment. Benzanthrone and Var Yellow 4 have been discontinued for use and are only addressed in this report for the purpose of clarity.