Detection, chemical warfare equipment

Evaluation of current Hazmat and EMS chemical detection equipment for ability to detect chemical warfare agents. 

Lightweight Chemical Detector (LCD-S) The LCD-S acts as a local warning alarm system for individuals and small groups of persons within the domestic or military market. It simultaneously detects, identifies, and differentiates between type of chemical warfare agent at below attack concentration, and warns users when to don personal protective equipment. 

A wide variety of commercial equipment is available for detection of hazardous chemicals, including a number of chemical warfare agents. For example, ion mobility spectroscopy is used to detect nerve, blister, and blood agents. The Chemical Agent Monitor is a portable, hand-held point detection instrument that uses ion mobility spectrometry to monitor nerve or blister agent vapors. However, minimum detection limits are approximately 100 times the acceptable exposure limit for nerve agents, and approximately 50 times the acceptable exposure limit for blister agents. 

FIGURE 53.6. Performance of on-site chemical warfare agent detection equipment. 

Fig. 16-24. M8 Chemical Agent Detection Paper. A drop of mustard (H) simulant from the vial has turned the paper red. Reprinted from Brletich NR, Waters MJ, Bowen GW, Tracy MF. Worldwide Chemical Detection Equipment Handbook. Edgewood, Md Chemical Warfare/Chemical and Biological Defense Information Analysis Center October 1995 407. Photograph Courtesy of US Army Edgewood Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

Brletich NR, Waters MJ, Bowen GW, Tracy MF. Worldwide Chemical Detection Equipment Handbook. Edgewood, Md Chemical Warfare/Chemical and Biological Defense Information Analysis Center October 1995. 

A variety of detection devices and other chemical warfare agent defense equipment have been developed for specific military applications. Most of the effort in this area resulted from the perceived threat during the Cold War era and although this threat has decreased dramatically, interest in chemical detection equipment persists because of worldwide chemical weapons proliferation. During the 1990-91 Iraq War chemical detection equipment was deployed into the... 

Persian Gulf and similar equipment has been used to Nations in peacekeeping or intervention roles where support the United Nations Special Commission the threat of chemical weapons use exists. Table 3 during the destruction of Iraqi chemical weapons, lists examples of chemical detection equipment by Equipment of this type has been used by the OPCW country and indicates the principle of detection and and could potentially be utilized again by the United capabilities of each system. Table 3 Selected military chemical warfare agent detection devices ... 

All Soviet Air Force units from headquarters down to company level have chemical warfare officers. A Chemical Biological and Radiological (CBR) section is attached to air bases. It is responsible for detecting CBR agents at airfields, for the decontamination of aircraft, runways, personnel and equipment and for training. The airfield technical services, under the administrative command of the Rear Services, provide personnel and material support for the CBR defence section. The office of the regimental Chief of Chemical Services, subordinate to the Chief of Chemical Troops, provides technical and training support for the CBR defence section."... 

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