A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2009

Shooting range used for sport or military training are considered as important source of heavy metals contamination in the environment, especially in soil. This research was implemented to assess the level, extent and potential risk of lead, copper and zinc contamination on the selected rifle/shooting ranges at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA), Nakhon-Nayok Province, Thailand. Soil, plant, surface water and sediment were collected and analyzed for total metals by digestion with concentrated nitric acid (HNO₃) using ICP-OES. Soil samples were also analyzed using DTPA extractable to evaluate metal bioavailability and potential toxicity in soil for vegetation growth. Analytical results show that the high concentrations of lead, copper and zinc are found in the berm soil and distance near the berm at both shooting range 1 and shooting range 2. Results from DTPA extractable show that lead is highly available for plant among the three metals studied. Similarly, vegetation samples at the two ranges had high levels of lead and this is in accordance with the high lead concentrations in surface soil. The concentrations of these heavy metals in shooting range 2 are higher than that of shooting range 1 in both vegetation and soil samples. Surface water and sediment samples at study area had low lead, copper and zinc concentrations. Analytical results of this study indicate that lead, copper and zinc contamination at the two ranges that are mainly limited to the surface soil (0-15cm) at the berm and nearby; these metals are not possibly transported into adjacent areas. Furthermore, environmental risk also was assessed using hazard quotient (HQ). In general, the risk at aquatic ecosystem is relatively low (HQ < 1) indicating no risk. But at terrestrial ecosystem, the environmental risk of lead element was quite high at both ranges. Therefore, lead might be a potential concern for terrestrial bird, insects including bees or wildlife surrounding the ranges especially surrounding the berm face. Finally, soil surface at the berm and adjacent distance may contaminated by heavy metals. Consequently, remediation methods such as phytoremediation using plant to remediate contaminated soil, soil washing remediate spend bullet and bullet fragment from range soil by using physical technology after that treating the remaining soil and waste water, etc are suggested in cleaning up soil at ranges.