World War I and World War II bombs embedded in ground are becoming dangerous: Research

Two experts have found that bombs and other explosives from World War I and World War II, which are still buried inside the ground, are becoming even more volatile. The ordnance specialists, one from the University of Stavanger's Department of Safety and the other from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, suggested that the chances are high that such explosives would explode if they are disturbed.

The researchers, Geir Novik and Dennis Christensen, have published their report on March 27 in the journal Royal Society Open Science. It's titled, "Increased impact sensitivity in ageing high explosives; analysis of Amatol extracted from explosive remnants of war". The researchers revealed the analysis of testing they did on recovered bombs.

The research said that millions of tonnes of explosive remnants of war remain in nature and their volume is continuously growing. The explosive legacy of wars represents an increasing threat to the environment and societal safety and security.

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Large amounts of explosives were fired at opposing forces by armies in various parts of Europe and other places during WWI and WWII. Reports have revealed that many of those did not explode as they were supposed and because of the force of their impact, they were embedded in the ground and left buried there even now.

"As munitions continue to deteriorate, harmful constituents will eventually leak into the environment, poisoning ecological receptors and contaminating the surrounding soil and groundwater," the research noted.

The research further noted that the munition deterioration due to exposure to various environmental factors may ultimately cause them to become increasingly sensitive to external stimuli and susceptible to accidental detonation.

The researchers said in the report that they have to thoroughly assess how to address these ageing munitions. They suggested that they must first establish certain "threshold values for safe and secure handling and final disposal of the explosive ordnance".

April 4 is marked as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action for awareness of why landmines are one of the most insidious and indiscriminate weapons of war. Last year in April, the United Nations published a report on the deadly legacy of landmines.

(With inputs from agencies)