War and Weapon Geochemistry: Key Areas, Applications and Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals

Osama Rahil Shaltami; Mustafa A. Ben Hkoma; Abobakar E Algomati; Abraheem Almahdi Firas Khamees Mohammed

doi:10.65405/tjwgec89

Authors

Osama Rahil Shaltami Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Benghazi University, Libya Author
Mustafa A. Ben Hkoma Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Researches Author
Abobakar E Algomati Department of Engineering Geology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Bright Star Libya Author
Abraheem Almahdi Firas Khamees Mohammed Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65405/tjwgec89

Keywords:

War Geochemistry, Weapon Geochemistry, Environmental Geochemistry

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the key areas and applications of war and weapon geochemistry. War geochemistry examines the wide-ranging effects of war on Earth's chemical cycles, including metal and explosive contamination of air, soil and water. In order to comprehend post-conflict pollution, weapon geochemistry fundamentally bridges military technology and geochemical processes by concentrating on the materials found in weapons, their chemical composition, release mechanisms, and interactions with the environment. In short, weapon geochemistry is the study of the source materials (munitions, agents) that cause those impacts, while war geochemistry is the impact on the entire Earth system. In order to manage resources for present and future generations, sustainable development requires stable, peaceful conditions. War breaks this foundation, causing natural disasters that impede growth, making militarism itself a serious sustainability crisis. Clearly, war and weapon geochemistry can be regarded as subfields of environmental geochemistry.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

(1) High-resolution satellite data (WorldView, GeoEye) should be used to map the effects of conflict by identifying vehicle tracks, craters, and bomb-mixed soils (bombturbation). This process combines remote sensing with field mapping to provide a thorough impact assessment.

(2) Evaluating chemical contamination by employing cutting-edge techniques like X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to examine soils and water for heavy metals and explosive residues. To measure enrichment, contaminated samples should be compared to regional background values, noting notable increases in metals from munitions.

(3) Monitoring soil alterations using geochemical techniques and magnetic susceptibility measurements to identify soil zones damaged by war rapidly.

(4) Establishing baseline geochemical data before to conflict and regularly monitoring to follow metal mobilization and possible water contamination to assess long-term risks; and

(5) Urgent monitoring of air quality is necessary to understand the extent of pollution.

References

Albarède, F., Blichert-Toft, J., Rivoal, M. and Telouk, P. (2016): A glimpse into the Roman finances of the Second Punic War through silver isotopes. Geochemical Perspectives Letters; 2: 127-137.

Bakhmutsky, M.V., Squibb, K., McDiarmid, M., Oliver, M. and Tucker, J.D. (2013): Long-term exposure to depleted uranium in Gulf-War veterans does not induce chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis; 757(2): 132-139.

Belkin, H.E. (2024): Chapter 20 - Properties, utilization, and potential health and environmental issues of depleted uranium (DU) for military and civilian use. Environmental Geochemistry (Third Edition), Site Characterization, Data Analysis, Case Histories, and Associated Health Issues; pp. 681-696.

Carvalho, F.P. and Oliveira, J.M. (2010): Uranium isotopes in the Balkan's environment and foods following the use of depleted uranium in the war. Environment International; 36(4): 352-360.

Danesi, P.R. (2019): Environmental and health consequences of nuclear, radiological and depleted uranium weapons. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Encyclopedia of Environmental Health (Second Edition); pp. 360-376.

Duan, Y., Wang, Z., Gou, W., Wang, Z., Li, Q. and Li, W. (2025): Stable zinc isotopes as tracers in environmental geochemistry. Earth-Science Reviews; 269: 105185.

Durakovic, A., Dietz, L. and Zimmerman, I. (2003): 1048 Estimate of the pulmonary neoplastic hazard of inhaled depleted uranium in Gulf War veterans. European Journal of Cancer Supplements; 1(5): S312.

El-Kammar, A.M., Arafa, I.H. and El-Sheltami, O.R. (2007): Mineral composition and environmental geochemistry of the beach sediments along the eastern side of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Journal of African Earth Sciences; 49: 103-114.

Fuge, R. and Johnson, C.C. (2015): Iodine and human health, the role of environmental geochemistry and diet, a review. Applied Geochemistry; 63: 282-302.

Gordienko, O.A. (2025): Impact of war on soils (a review). Eurasian Soil Science; 58(127).

Graham, M.C., Oliver, I.W., MacKenzie, A.B., Ellam, R.M. and Farmer, J.G. (2011): Mechanisms controlling lateral and vertical porewater migration of depleted uranium (DU) at two UK weapons testing sites. Science of the Total Environment; 409(10): 1854-1866.

Ji, C., Zhu, Y., Zhao, S., Zhang, H., Wang, S., Zhou, J., Liu, X., Zhang, Y. and Liu, X. (2022): Arsenic and heavy metals at Japanese abandoned chemical weapons site in China: distribution characterization, source identification and contamination risk assessment. Environmental Geochemistry and Health; 45: 3069-3087.

Oliver, I.W., Mackenzie, A.B., Ellam, R.M., Graham, M.C. and Farmer, J.G. (2006): Determining the extent of depleted uranium contamination in soils at a weapons test site: An isotopic investigation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; 70(18): A457.

Phillips, F.M., Mattick, J.L., Duval, T.A., Elmore, D. and Kubik, P.W. (1988): Chlorine 36 and tritium from nuclear weapons fallout as tracers for long-term liquid and vapor movement in desert soils. Water Resources Research; 24(11): 1877-1891.

Ruggieri, F., Saavedra, J., Fernandez-Turiel, J.L., Gimeno, D. and Garcia-Valles, M. (2010): Environmental geochemistry of ancient volcanic ashes. Journal of Hazardous Materials; 183(1-3): 353-365.

Salama, E., El-kameesy, S.U. and Elrawi, R. (2019): Depleted uranium assessment and natural radioactivity monitoring in North West of Iraq over a decade since the last Gulf War. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity; 201: 25-31.

Shaltami, O.R. (2012): Mineral composition and environmental geochemistry of the beach sediments along the Mediterranean Coast from Benghazi to Bin Jawwad, Northeast Libya. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Cairo University, Egypt.

Shaltami, O.R., Fares, F.F., El-Fallah, O.A., EL Oshebi, F.M., Errishi, H., and El-Ekhfifi, S.S. (2021): Oil pollution in the Port of Benghazi. Global Environmental Development and Sustainability: Research, Engineering and Management, Óbuda University, Budapest, Hungary, Proceeding Book; pp. 241-249.

Sharafi, A., Ardejani, F.D., Rezaei, B. and Sargheini, J. (2018): Environmental geochemistry of near-neutral waters and mineralogy of zinc and lead at the Angouran non-sulphide zinc mine, NW Iran. Journal of Geochemical Exploration; 186: 77-93.

Siegel, F.R. (2002): Environmental geochemistry of potentially toxic metals. 1st edition, Springer Berlin, Heidelberg; 218p.

Wang, P., Hu, J., Liu, T., Liu, J., Ma, S., Ma, W., Li, J., Zheng, H. and Lu, R. (2023): Advances in the application of metallic isotopes to the identification of contaminant sources in environmental geochemistry. Journal of Hazardous Materials; 458: 131913.

Williams, O.H. and Rintoul-Hynes, N.L.J. (2022): Legacy of war: Pedogenesis divergence and heavy metal contamination on the WWI front line a century after battle. European Journal of Soil Science; 73(4): e13297.

Zhang, X., Hester, K.C., Mancillas, O., Peltzer, E.T., Walz, P.M. and Brewer, P.G. (2009): Geochemistry of chemical weapon breakdown products on the seafloor: 1,4-thioxane in seawater. Environmental Science and Technology; 43(3): 610-615.