Objective      To explore the characteristics of the main air pollutants generated in tanks after firing

and their effects on soldiers’ physiology and neurobehavioral abilities.       Methods      The concentrations of gases in tank

including oxygen (O

2

)

hydrogen sulfide (H

2

S)

carbon monoxide (CO)

hydrocyanic acid (HCN)

chlorine gas (Cl

2

)

carbon dioxide (CO

2

)

sulfur dioxide (SO

2

)

ammonia (NH

3

)

nitrogen dioxide (NO

2

) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were monitored after firing. Organic gases were sampled after different shooting numbers and analyzed with GC/MS. Physiological indices (body temperature

blood pressure

heart rate

blood oxygen saturation and hand gripping strength) of 47 soldiers were measured and recorded before and after firing. The neurobehavioral abilities of 24 soldiers selected randomly from the above group were tested with neurobehavioral evaluation system before and after firing.       Results      Six kinds of harmful inorganic gases (CO

CO

2

HCN

SO

2

NH

3

and NO

2

) and 278 kinds of organic gases were detected after firing. The heart rate and hand gripping strength increased significantly after firing (P0.01) compared with those before firing

while the blood oxygen saturation decreased significantly (P0.05). The neurobehavioral abilities such as serial addition and subtraction

memory scanning

auditory digit span

auditory simple reaction time and aim tracing decreased significantly after firing as compared with those before firing (P0.05).       Conclusion      Many kinds of harmful gases are released in tank after firing

and the concentrations of several gases are close to the value of occupational standard. The combined effect of those harmful gases can influence soldiers’ physiology and neurobehavioral abilities.