Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare (2008) - The Black Vault

Medical Aspects of Chemical WarfareClCNCNFig. 13-1. Chemical structure of CS.Fig. 13-2. Heat dispersion of CS canisters at Fort Meade,Maryland.Photograph: Courtesy of TA Kluchinsky.produce many semivolatile organic air contaminants 29 ;therefore, such canisters must not be used in enclosedspaces for training. It is important for medical personnelto encourage commanders and trainers to deployCS and other RCAs according to the most currenttraining guidance.The practice of heating CS capsules (national stocknumber 1365-00-690-8556) on an improvised aerosolgenerator (Figure 13-4) is currently the preferredmethod of CS dispersal inside a mask confidencechamber. The Uniformed Services University of theHealth Sciences, Department of Preventive Medicineand Biometrics, Division of Environmental and OccupationalHealth is investigating this method ofCS dispersal to determine the thermal degradationproducts produced. 39The metabolic effects and health issues associatedwith acute CS exposure and its hydrolysis productsappear to have been thoroughly studied 26,40–48 ; however,recent investigations into potentially harmfulCS-derived compounds produced during thermaldispersion have raised new concerns. Many of thesecompounds have not been evaluated for their potentialto produce acute or chronic effects, 28–31 and thecurrent methods for analysis of CS and CS-derivedcompounds recommended by the National Institute forOccupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are less thanadequate given the current arsenal of instrumental andanalytical techniques now available.In 1961 Porter and associates 49 identified and quantifiedseveral compounds produced as a result of thethermal degradation of CS. They identified CS, CO,CO 2, Cl - , NH 4, N 2O, C 2H 2, and water at temperaturesranging from 490°C to 625°C. 49 In 1969 McNamara etCS CapsuleVentilationHolesCoffeeCanBricksHeat Source(Sterno* or Candle)Fig. 13-3. CS canisters being dispersed inside a room at FortMeade, Maryland. This method is neither recommended norpermitted for mask confidence training; it is being performedhere for research purposes only.Photograph: Courtesy of TA Kluchinsky.Fig. 13-4. Preferred method of heating CS capsules (nationalstock number 1365-00-690-8556) on an improvised aerosolgenerator.Photograph: Courtesy of TA Kluchinsky and J Hout.*Candle Corporation of America, Des Plaines, Il.446