Influence of Selected Environmental Management Systems on the Properties and Functional Parameters of Explosive Materials

The article presents the influence of using REACH and LCA systems on the properties and functional parameters of a group of hazardous substances – explosive materials. The most commonly used explosives include dynamite and emulsion explosive materials. Dynamites are generally viewed as dangerous due to the content of nitroglycerin and nitroglycol, whereas emulsion explosive materials are considered safe in environmental terms. However, they have worse functional parameters related to the energy efficiency of the detonation process compared to dynamites. Undoubtedly, the application of REACH regulation will lead to reducing the use of environmentally hazardous substances. On the basis of this principle, an alternative composition of an explosive material consisting of a mixture of emulsion matrix and penthrite with the energy efficiency parameters comparable to those of dynamites was developed. The analysis of research results allows concluding that the criteria for substance qualification specified in REACH regulation are insufficient to thoroughly evaluate the safety of its use, and should be supplemented with LCA analysis elements.