Chemical agent decontaminant

Treatment—Patients should be decontaminated immediately prior to treatment using the chemical agent decontamination method presented in Section 7.3.2. No known antidote is available. 

Ong KK, Dong H et al. (2003) Nanoencapsulation of OPAA with mesoporous materials for chemical agent decontamination in organic solvents. DoD Joint service scientific conference on chem bio defense research. Hunt Valley (MD)... 

Chemical agent decontaminant (CAD) is the standard UK CW agent decontaminant and is prepared from sodium dichloroisocyanurate (FiClor, 85 g), sodium hydroxide (225 g) and boric acid (85 g) containing 1% sodium dodecyl sulphate (detergent) in water (9 litres). The activity of the solution is reduced by 50% after 1 h. The solution is freshly prepared from its individual solid components immediately prior to use and has a pH of 10.2. Like hypochlorite, FiClor is a source of electropositive chlorine. Although detailed studies into products and reaction mechanisms have not been carried out, it is likely that the decontamination of V- and G-agents by CAD follows a similar course to the reactions with hypochlorite under basic conditions. 

Chemical defense includes individual and collective protection and decontamination. The goal of individual and collective protection is to use clothing ensembles and respirators as well as collective filtration systems and shelters to insulate forces from chemical agents. Decontamination is essential to return personnel and equipment to normal operating conditions. 

Nanoencapsulation of Organophosphorus Add Anhydrolase (OPAA) with Mesoporous Materials for Chemical Agent Decontamination in Organic Solvents, Chapter 14... 

In the context of toxic chemical agents, decontamination may be defined as the removal of a persistent agent fiom a victim or his surrounding area in order to minimise further exposure and toxic trauma to both the victim and emergency responders. Box 4.5 shows the essential characteristics of basic decontamination. 

Decontamination. If contaminated equipment or material does not have to be used immediately, natural aeration is an effective decontaminant procedure, as most chemical agents, including the bHster and V-agents, are volatile to a certain degree. Wind accelerates their evaporation and hastens their dissipation. Rain and dew may also cause sufficient hydrolysis of some agents. Sunlight increases the surface temperatures of military equipment and thus accelerates agent evaporation. 

If decontamination caimot be left to natural processes, chemical neutralizers or means of physical removal must be employed. In general, the neutralizers are of two types chlorine-based oxidants or strong bases. Some neutralizers have been especially developed for the decontamination of chemical agents. 

Besides these speciaUy-designed decontaminants and kits there are a number of commercially available materials that wiU partiaUy decontaminate chemical agents. Such materials are Hsted in the US. Army Yield Manual FM 3 —5, NBC Decontamination. 

The rate of action of a chemical agent is the rate at which the body reacts to or is affected by that agent. The rate varies widely, even to those of similar tactical or physiological classification. For example, blister agent HD causes no immediate sensation on the skin. Skin effects usually occur several hours later (some cases result in delays of 10-12 days before symptoms appear). In contrast, lewisite produces an immediate burning sensation on the skin upon contact and blistering in about 13 h. Decontamination immediately (within 4-5 min) will prevent serious blister agent effects. 

Reactive oximes and their salts, such as potassium 2,3-butanedione monoximate found in commercially available Reactive Skin Decontaminant Lotion (RSDL), are extremely effective at rapidly detoxifying sulfur vesicants. Some chloroisocyanurates, similar to those found in the Canadian Aqueous System for Chemical-Biological Agent Decontamination (CAS-CAD), are effective at detoxifying sulfur vesicants, and so is oxone, a peroxymonosulfate triple salt. 

United States Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command. Guidelines for Cold Weather Mass Decontamination During a Terrorist Chemical Agent Incident. January 2002. 

C. Dishovsky et al. (eds.), Medical Treatment of Intoxications and Decontamination of Chemical Agents in the Area of Terrorist Attack, 3-11. 

Mobile Medical units with Clinic for First aid treatment Laboratory Diagnostic units operating theater hospital, specifications for treatment of patients affected by chemical agents (indication, decontamination). 

DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL DECONTAMINATION IN CASE OF INTOXICATION WITH CHEMICAL AGENT... 

Keywords chemical warfare agents, decontamination, detoxification, human skin, chemisorption, oxidation, detergents, alcoholates, aprotic solvents... 

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