The vapor components of several water gel explosives have been characterized using Pt-wire preconcentration/capillary gas chromatography; concentration of headspace vapors on Tenax-GC with thermal desorption capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry; and liquid chromatography with Thermal Energy Analyzer detection. In addition to normal sensitizing agents almost all of the water gel explosives were found to be contaminated with ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN) and nitroglycerine (NG) presumed to occur from storage with dynamites in commerical blasting company magazines. Other trace components are presumed to arise from the manufacturing process.