Chemical agents, intentional contamination

Special Considerations Intentional Contamination of Food or Water with Chemical Agents... 

Environmental chemical exposures can occur during manufacturing, distribution, application, intentional exposure, or by the presence of residues. The degree of skin contamination and systemic poisoning following dermal contact is mainly determined by the concentration of the contaminating chemical agent and the duration of contact. 

Organophosphate and carbamate cholinesterase inhibitors (see Chapter 7) are widely used to kill insects and other pests. Most cases of serious organophosphate or carbamate poisoning result from intentional ingestion by a suicidal person, but poisoning has also occurred at work (pesticide application or packaging) or, rarely, as a result of food contamination or terrorist attack (eg, release of the chemical warfare nerve agent sarin in the Tokyo subway system in 1995). 

Chemical emergencies may result from industrial explosions, transportation accidents, police actions involving tear gas, or the intentional use of chemicals as agents of war by terrorists. The reiease of a chemical into the environment creates a HAZMAT incident that poses unique challenges for the health care system and for those individuals who participate in the response. Victims who are chemically contaminated must be decontaminated, preferably before being brought to the hos-... 

In cases in which surface treatment produces a smooth oxide (intentionally or unintentionally) bond performance is controlled by chemical bonds across the oxide-epoxy interface. This situation can arise, for example, when an FPL adherend is rinsed in fluorine-contaminated water or is exposed to fluorine vapor. ( 8) The oxide-epoxy bonds are relatively weak and are readily disrupted by moisture.(, 50) As a result, bond failure is rapid upon exposure to humid conditions, and the crack propagates along the adhesive-oxide interface. In cases in which a smooth oxide is formed intentionally, coupling agents such as silanes can be used to improve durability. This is discussed in detail in Chapter 9 by E. Pleuddemann in the accompanying volume, Fundamentals of Adhesion. 

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