[Bioremediation of explosives contaminated soil: a solution for future]

ABSTRACT

The investigation of past operational and disposal practices at military facilities and formerly used defense sites has dramatically increased in the past several years. The manufacture; load, assembly and pack; demilitarization; washout operations; and open burn/open detonation of ordnance and explosives has resulted in contamination of soils with munitions residues. The primary constituents are nitroaromatic and nitramine organic compounds and heavy metals. A number of sites have soil contamination remaining where waste disposal practices were discontinued 20 to 50 years ago