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

Chemical Defense EquipmentabFig. 17-21. (a) The M256A1 chemical agent detector kit. (b)The sampler/detector is used to test for vapor contamination.Photographs: Courtesy of the Chemical Casualty CareDivision, US Army Medical Research Institute of ChemicalDefense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.agent in water. It can, however, be used to check anarea before a military unit moves in or to define cleanareas or routes. Some chemical ingredients in the kitare considered possible carcinogens and should behandled as such. The emissions produced by the kitare also toxic; a mask and gloves must be worn whilethe kit is being used. 1,14,24The detection limits for the M256A1 are as follows:for the G series nerve agents, 0.005 mg/m 3 ;for VX, 0.02 mg/m 3 ; for the vesicants mustard (HD)and lewisite, above threshold concentrations of 3.0mg/m 3 and 14 mg/m 3 , respectively; for hydrogencyanide (AC), 11 mg/m 3 ; and for cyanogen chloride(CK), 10 mg/m 3 .Chemical Agent Water Testing KitThe M272 chemical agent water testing kit is designedto detect and identify, via colorimetric reactions,hazardous levels of nerve agents, mustard,lewisite, and cyanide in treated or untreated water. Afull kit contains enough supplies to perform 25 testsfor each agent, and simulants are included for traininguse (Figure 17-22). About 20 minutes is required toperform all four tests. Some kit chemicals can be veryharmful; all bodily contact with the chemicals shouldbe avoided, and the kit should only be handled whilewearing protective gloves and equipment. Detectionlimits are as follows: for the G-series nerve agents andVX, 0.02 mg/L; for the vesicants lewisite and mustard(H and HD), 2.0 mg/L; and for the cyanides (AC andCK), 20 mg/L. 14,24M22 Automatic Chemical Agent Detector and AlarmThe M22 automatic chemical agent detector andalarm is an off-the-shelf automatic chemical agentalarm system capable of detecting and identifyingstandard blister and nerve agents simultaneously. TheM22 system is portable and operates independentlyafter system start-up. The system consists of the M88detector and up to five M42 alarms, which provideboth an audible and visible warning (Figure 17-23). TheM22 system is used primarily to alert stationary unitswhen a cloud of nerve agent vapor has arrived or isabout to arrive at their position, providing a communicationsinterface for automatic battlefield warning andreporting. The M22 can be located within a hospitalcomplex, with alarm units placed to cover all criticalcare, treatment, and support areas. It can also augmentthe ICAM as a survey instrument. 14,24Standoff DetectorsEarly warning of chemical agents provides troopsthe necessary time to increase protective posture and toavoid contaminated areas. Standoff detectors providethis early warning at line-of-sight distances. Opticalremote sensing technologies, employing infraredspectral analysis techniques, have been used in thedevelopment of chemical agent standoff detectiontechnologies, including two types of remote sensingsystems: passive and active (laser). The passive systemdiscussed below employs a Fourier transform infraredspectrometer. 1,14,24577