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When people enlist in the military, they become the nation's security and promise to protect all citizens. Although this job comes with honor and recognition, it also involves life-threatening situations. In recent studies that have been focused on veterans, researchers have tied military personnel to a greater risk of developing mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). These complications could all lead to a premature death. In a new study, researchers looked at other risk factors that could also lead to an early death that is not due to combat. They found that the gases or fumes that the soldiers breathe in after shooting small arms could lead to a decline in lung function.

For this study, the research team from Norway's Oslo University Hospital and the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment decided to examine the effects of fire arms' fumes after the Norwegian's armed forces have recently reported more health issues post firing sessions. The research team looked at 55 healthy servicemen from the Norwegian Armed Forces who were not smokers. The researchers focused on three different types of ammunitions, which included one leaded and two nonleaded that were used in an assault rifle.

In order to measure the effects of the exposure, the researchers administered a spirometry test. This test is capable of measuring lung function and was used before the shooting session and then 24-hours after the session. The researchers controlled for potential exposure to other fumes by using a tent. The researchers discovered that regardless of what kind of ammunition the soldiers used, all of the men suffered a decline in lung function after 24-hours. The researchers calculated that lung function decreased by a mean average of five percent within just one to two hours after the shooting training session. After one day post shooting, the mean average declined by seven percent.

"The findings from our small sample show that fumes from military arms are causing a decline in lung function shortly after firing practice," the lead author of the study, Anne-Katrine Borander said according to Medical Xpress. "These lung function changes are comparable to the effects caused by other occupational risk factors, such as organic dusts in farming and cotton workers. Although we noticed this decline for all types of ammunition, further researcher can now be undertaken to look at specific exposure components to help design better ammunition, and to continue implementation of other measures for avoiding these effects."

The study will be presented today at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Annual Congress in Barcelona.