Arsenic vesicants protection

Structural firefighters protective clothing is recommended for fire situations only it is not effective in spill situations or release events and should never be used as the primary chemical protective garment to enter an area contaminated with arsenic vesicants. 

Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) levels are the ceiling limit for respirators other than SCBAs. However, IDLH levels have not been established for arsenical vesicants. Therefore, any potential exposure to these agents should be regarded with extreme caution and the use of SCBAs for respiratory protection should be considered. 

Use only chemical protective clothing that has undergone material and construction performance testing against arsenic vesicant agents. Reported permeation rates may be affected by solvents, components, or impurities in munition grade or modified agents. 

Because of the extreme dermal hazard posed by arsenic vesicants, responders should wear a Level A protective ensemble whenever there is a potential for exposure to any liquid agent, or to an elevated or unknown concentration of agent vapor. 

Standard burials are acceptable when contamination levels are low enough to allow bodies to be handled without wearing additional protective equipment. Cremation may be required if remains cannot be completely decontaminated. Although arsenic vesicant agents are destroyed at the operating temperature of a commercial crematorium (i.e., above 1000°F), the initial heating phase may volatilize some of the agents and allow vapors to escape. Additionally, combustion will produce toxic and potentially volatile arsenic oxides. 

Sulfur/Arsenical Vesicants pose both a severe respiratory and severe contact hazard. Wear appropriate fully encapsulating protective gear with positive... 

The most common agents in modern arsenals are vesicants and nerve agents. Cyanides and pulmonary toxicants are thought to be represented in some stockpiles, but are typically less toxic and more difficult to employ because of their physical characteristics. Some cyanides and pulmonary toxicants have specific characteristics that make them appropriate for military use, such as rapid rate of action, very low persistency, and the ability to penetrate or damage protective equipment. 

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