BREACHING

There are five primary breaching techniques used by military and law enforcement today. These techniques include mechanical breaching, hydraulic breaching, ballistic breaching, explosive breaching, and thermal breaching. Although these methods of entry are fundamentally different, they all release particulate matter in the form of combustible elements, toxic dust from infrastructure collapse, and from mechanical/thermal methods of entry.

Overpressure is the sudden onset of a pressure wave after an explosion. This pressure wave is caused by the energy released in the initial explosion. As the pressure wave radiates outward, it carries with it hazardous fragments and particulate matter containing building debris and toxic heavy metals.

TEST METHODOLOGY

To illustrate filtration efficacy and quantitative evidence of airborne hazards, Ventus has conducted a comprehensive study involving multiple training environments, with participants wearing the TR2 Tactical Respirator. These environments included:

• Indoor Firing Ranges

• Outdoor Firing Ranges

• Close Quarter Battle (CQB) shoot houses

• Live training sites used for Special Forces and SWAT training.

Outdoor Range

Material caught by TR2 filter; (figures are in micrograms, average across 6 TR2 filters) 

Indoor Range

Material caught by TR2 filter; (figures are in micrograms, average across 6 TR2 filters)

CQB with Breaching

Material caught by TR2 filter; (figures are in micrograms, average across 5 TR2 filters)

BURN PITS

Beyond weapons training scenarios, there are many other sources of potential exposure to hazardous particulate. One area that has received significant attention in recent years are burn pits, or areas within a military compound devoted to burning waste as a method of disposal.

Unlike incineration, the temperatures of the open-air burn pit are lower and usually result in incomplete combustion of the material being burned. This results in the aerosolization of a greater number of toxins. The waste burned could include chemicals, paints, medical waste, human waste, metal and aluminum products, electronic waste, munitions, petroleum products, lubricants, plastics, rubber, wood, and food waste. The pollutants in burn pits include dioxins, particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic carbons, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, hexachlorobenzene, and ash.

It has been reported that of The Veterans Affairs Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, 30% of participants have been diagnosed with respiratory issues such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

Respiratory conditions attributed to burn pit exposure can be prevented using proper respiratory equipment, such as the TR2.

HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

The presence of heavy metals and carcinogenic compounds that have been identified in the TR2 filter warrants concern. The daily thresholds for each chemical, as established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), highlight the evidence of the situation. Exposure to gunshot fumes, often laden with nanosized materials, has been demonstrated to induce cytotoxicity and DNA damage in lung cells. The associated toxicity spans over 32 heavy metals and carcinogenic compounds, leading to a heightened health risk.

Furthermore, the correlation between particulate matter in air pollution and adverse health outcomes, such as heart disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer, is well-established. Military and law enforcement personnel are regularly exposed to high levels of particulate pollution during combat and training activities, involving scenarios like combustion-related activities, environmental fires, fossil fuel emissions, explosions, and desert sand environments.

Short term exposure to specific particulate matter can cause airway restriction, reduced oxygenation, and acute respiratory illness. These have immediate and long-term effects on military and law enforcement personnel’s performance in occupational tasks. Longer term exposure to high particulate loads can lead to chronic illness and disability. The rate of respiratory illness in military personnel is roughly three times that of the general population.

CONCLUSION 

In summary, this data sheds light on the pressing need for effective respiratory protection in high-particulate environments. The TR2 Tactical Respirator's performance was evaluated across diverse training scenarios, revealing alarming levels of heavy metals and carcinogenic compounds present in the filters. These findings underscore the critical importance of providing adequate protection for military, law enforcement, and first responder personnel to mitigate both short-term and long-term health risks associated with exposure to contaminated particulates.

In these environments, training or operational, the TR2 offers protection by filtering ≥99% of solid airborne particulates including lead down to 0.06μm, as well as 97% of oil-based particles down to 0.3μm. The TR2 can be worn with or without a helmet allowing the user flexibility depending on the situation. The light and compact TR2 will not restrict movement, affect the ability to accurately fire a weapon, impact situational awareness or breathability. In each of the situations mentioned above, the TR2 should be considered a standard piece of protective equipment.

There is no amount of lead that is considered safe in the human body, and no system in the human body is left unaffected when there are elevated heavy metal levels in the blood. Ventus has run countless tests on used filters after time spent on the range and lead levels were unexpectedly high.

References and Sources:

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6. Risen, James (August 6, 2010). "Veterans Sound Alarm Over Burn-Pit Exposure". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 

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8. Field Manual 03-06-2011. US Army. Section 3-20 Breaching 

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