Army fields safer smoke grenades

The ingredients that go into making the colored smoke grenades used by soldiers everywhere are being reconcocted into a formula that’s safer for soldiers and the environment, according to an Army press release...

“This effort calls for removing potentially harmful dyes and other materials from smoke grenades,” Koster said.

When a traditional grenade ignites, he said, the dye inside vaporizes and condenses to form a colored cloud. The original formulation in most smoke grenades relied on a sulfur-based fuel to generate just enough heat to vaporize the dye.

“The smoke could cause a burning sensation if inhaled, and the dye residue could potentially have a harmful effect on the environment,” Koster said.

Read the rest at Army Times