Mustard decontamination

Blister/vesicant exposure is treated primarily as a thermal burn. Sulfur mustard decontamination is limited to immediate washing of exposed skin with water or soap and water, and flushing the eyes with copious amounts of water. Avoid 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution or vigorous scrubbing as they may cause deeper tissue penetration. Typical burn therapy is accomplished with antibiotic ointment, sterile dressing, and other supportive... 

Shih, M.L., Korte, W.D., Smith, J.R., Szafraniec, L.L. (1999a). Analysis and stability of the candidate sulfur mustard decontaminant S-330. J. Appl. Toxicol. 19 S89-95. 

Fig. 2-27. Cleaning up mustard agent in the field with bleaching powder and soil. The labor-intensive nature of mustard decontamination is readily apparent. Note that the exercise is being conducted in the winter no doubt the chemical protective garments shown here would have constituted a considerable thermal load. Photograph Chemical and Biological Defense Command Historical Research and Response Team, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

Thus these agents tend to cause less damage than mustard. Decontamination should he with large amounts of water or soap and water. Lewisite (L) contains arsenic and may respond to British Anti-Lewisite (BAL) injection. 

The antimustard preparation, M5 protective ointment, while not the final answer to mustard decontamination and prevention of mustard effects on the skin, was the most satisfactory preparation devised during the war for this purpose. Researchers found no clear-cut superiority for any therapeutic agent in the treatment of mustard burns of the skin, but they concluded that the use on third degree burns of sulfadiazine ointment and petrolatum containing silver nitrate was the best treatment for the burnlike injury. As for contamination of the eyes by liquid mustard gas, nothing proved much more effective in preventing the rapid and destruc-... 

Sulfur mustard reacts rapidly with chlorine or with bleach, and this reaction is a suitable means of decontamination. Nitrogen mustards, however, chlorinate extremely slowly thus chlorination is not suitable for their decontamination. The formation of water-soluble salts, such as by neutralization with sodium bisulfate, is the usual method for nitrogen mustard removal from contaminated surfaces. The mustard salts are much less vesicant than the corresponding free bases. 

One such decontaminant is supertropical bleach (STB). STB is a mixture of chlorinated lime and calcium oxide containing about 30% available chlorine. It can be used either as a dry mix or as a slurry to decontaminate some equipment surfaces and terrain. The dry mix is prepared with two parts bleach to three parts earth by volume. A slurry typically consists of 40 parts STB to 60 parts by weight of water. This material is then sprayed or swabbed on the contaminated surface (see Bleaching agents). STB is an effective decontaminant for mustard, lewisite, and VX. It is less effective against nerve agents other than VX. 

Keywords decontamination efficiency, mustard agent, desorption, camouflage clothing... 

After the decontamination process not the whole amount of the mustard agent is decontaminated and 2-3% of the preliminary quantity remains bonded to textile. Comparing both evaporation and decontamination the temperature has a significant influence on the kinetics of the process. At of 60°C mustard agent is not fully decontaminated in the researched period of time. 

Medical Management Immediate decontamination after exposure is the only way to prevent damage to victims, followed by symptomatic management of lesions. Hospital care tends to be supportive. It should be repeated that liquid arsenical vesicants produce more serious lesions on dermal surfaces than do liquid mustard. In toxic victims, liberal fluids by mouth or intravenous, and high-vitamin, high-protein, high-carbohydrate diets could be indicated. For those victims where shock is in evidence, provide the usual supportive measures such as intravenous administration, blood transfusions, or other vascular volume expanders should be indicated. 

Clinical signs and symptoms from mustard (H/HD) are not apparent until hours later skin blisters might not appear for up to twenty-four hours, but tissue damage occurs within two minutes. If decontamination is not done within the first two minutes after exposure, nothing can be done to prevent a mustard injury. Since mustard (H/HD) can be detected by human beings by smell in concentrations of 0.6 to 1.0 mg/m3 as a garlic, horseradish, or mustard odor an alert person will most likely smell the mustard vapor before encountering the liquid. 

The hazard of a mixture of mustard and Lewisite (HL) on the eyes and skin, or vapor in the eyes or respiratory tract, is immediate. Within an hour, edema of the conjunctivae and lids begin and soon results in eye closure. Any casualty experiences serious pain seconds after contact with HL liquid, but such extreme pain makes the injured person decontaminate at once. Rapid decontamination is the sole manner to avoid severe burns since after a few minutes of contact with a mixture of mustard and Lewisite, the upper layer of skin will die and appear gray, painful erythema will be apparent shortly thereafter, and... 

Field First Aid Decontaminate At Once for All Exposed Victims Although sulfur mustards cause cellular changes within minutes of contact, the onset of pain and other clinical effects are delayed for one to twenty-four hours. Sulfur mustards are alkylating agents that may cause bone marrow suppression and neurologic and gastrointestinal toxicity. However, the biochemical mechanisms of action are not clearly understood by anyone. The death rate from exposure to sulfur mustard during World War I was 2-3 percent,... 

There is no antidote for nitrogen mustard toxicity, and decontamination of potentially exposed persons must be done within minutes to avoid tissue damage. Victims should be moved out of the hot zone, administered oxygen and/or assisted ventilation, and seek medical attention at once. The nitrogen mustards are delayed chemical agents, and may delay for up to twenty-four hours to show symptoms. They are poisons, and contact with vapor or liquids can be fatal. Do not eat, drink, or smoke during response to a nitrogen mustard incident or criminal event. 

Caution There is no antidote for nitrogen mustard toxicity decontamination of all potentially exposed areas within minutes after exposure is the only effective method to decrease tissue damage. Other than that, treatment is mainly supportive. 

Note Surfaces contaminated with HD and then rinse decontaminated may evolve sufficient mustard vapor to produce a physiological response. 

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