Investigation finds blast exposure risks in military training
An investigation has revealed that repeated blast exposure during military training poses significant risks of traumatic brain injury, raising concerns about long-term health effects for service members.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
An investigation into traumatic brain injury (TBI) among military personnel has revealed that repeated blast exposure during training, not just combat, poses significant risks. The findings show that soldiers firing their own heavy weapons are regularly subjected to shock waves that can cause long-term damage to the brain, often misdiagnosed by the NHS.
The investigation included blast readings taken on Salisbury Plain, where detonation experts set off explosives while a super slow-motion camera captured the shock wave. The blast wave, distinct from the fireball, travels supersonically and impacts the head, rattling the brain inside the skull. Even at 100 metres, the pressure can feel like being winded. For breaching exercises, soldiers are often much closer.
Mannequins fitted with blast monitors were used to measure overpressure. A charge one-eighth the size of those used for breaching produced a peak overpressure of 3.7 psi at five metres, similar to the 3 psi from firing a mortar. Soldiers may fire mortars dozens of times a day, building up cumulative exposure. Incorrect body position can increase the danger. Shoulder-mounted anti-tank weapons expose the firer to 6 psi.
To demonstrate the effect on soft tissue, water balloons were used. Those nearest the blast burst; those further away, exposed to the same overpressure as a soldier firing an anti-tank weapon, bulged. The energy is transmitted into the brain, causing cells to break down and die over time. The science indicates long-term damage from many small events, but short-term acute exposure thresholds are not well established.
The Ministry of Defence says it takes veterans' health seriously and is investing millions to better understand the impact of firing weapons on soldiers' brains. Other countries are already limiting blast exposure during training. The investigation raises the question of whether the UK is playing with fire in the meantime.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| ITV reported that repeated blast exposure from firing own weapons during training can cause traumatic brain injury, often misdiagnosed by the NHS; the peak overpressure from a small breaching charge is similar to that from firing a mortar; and other countries limit blast exposure but the UK has not established safe limits. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focused on the physical science of blast exposure, using on-site demonstrations and expert interviews to illustrate the risks. It emphasised the cumulative nature of damage and the lack of established safe limits, contrasting UK practice with other countries that already limit training exposures. The tone was investigative and concerned, highlighting potential long-term health consequences for service members.
- “It can be pretty nasty, to be honest. It's going to impact on the head. It's going to rattle the brain around inside the skull cavity.”
- “The science, I think, is quite clear that there's long-term damage from lots of these little events, if we kind of add those up. But the short-term acute exposure thresholds are not well established at this point.”
- “So are we playing with fire in the meantime? Yes, I think we are.”
Broadcast Timeline
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