Decontamination nerve agents

Cheng T-C, JJ Calomiris (1996) A cloned bacterial enzyme for nerve agent decontamination. Enz Microbiol Technol 18 597-601. 

Nanobiocatalysis for OP Nerve Agent Decontamination and Personal Detoxification... 

Nerve Agents- Decontamination of patients. The importance of early decontamination can not be over emphasized. Decontamination of the skin should be accomplished quickly if it is to be fully effective. Liquid agent may be removed by fullers earth or chemically inactivated by the use of reactive decontaminants. Decontamination personnel should wear a mask and protective equipment while decontamination is performed. Once a casualty has been decontaminated, or the agent fully removed, no further risk of contamination exists. The casualty s body fluids, urine, or feces do not present a chemical warfare (CW) hazard. 

System in March 2007 for use in the US Army, Navy and Air Force. It is also an approved medical device for nerve agent decontamination in the European Union, Australia, and Canada. The efficacy of RSDL to remove and decontaminate CWAs was demonstrated in vivo with guinea pigs and in vitro with chick embryos. 

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. 

Cheng T-C, SP Harvey, GL Chen (1996) Cloning and expression of a gene encoding a bacterial enzyme for decontamination of organophosphorus nerve agents and nucleotide sequence of the enzyme. Appl Environ Microbiol 62 1636-1641. 

Household bleach is not an efficient means of decontaminating large quantities of V-series agents. In addition to limited solubility in commercial bleach due to the high pH, a minimum 10-fold excess of active chlorine to nerve agent is required to ensure destruction of the agent. 

Small areas Ventilate to remove the vapors. If condensation is present, decontaminate with copious amounts of a decontamination solution as described in Section 1.6.1. Collect and place into containers lined with high-density polyethylene. Wash the area with copious amounts of soap and water. Collect and containerize the rinseate. Removal of porous material, including painted surfaces, maybe required because the nerve agent that has been absorbed into these materials can migrate back to the surface posing both a contact and vapor hazard. 

Use a sponge or cloth with liquid soap and copious amounts of water to wash the skin surface and hair at least three times. Do not delay decontamination to find warm or hot water if it is not readily available. Avoid rough scrubbing as this could abrade the skin and increase percutaneous absorption of residual agent. Rinse with copious amounts of water. If there is a potential that the eyes have been exposed to nerve agents, irrigate with water or 0.9% saline solution for a minimum of 15 minutes. 

Decontaminate the casualty ensuring that all nerve agents have been removed. If nerve agents have gotten into the eyes, irrigate the eyes with water or 0.9% saline solution for at least 15 minutes. Irrigate open wounds with water or 0.9% saline solution for at least 10 minutes. However, do not delay treatment if thorough decontamination cannot be... 

Decontamination Kit, Skin (M258A1) to avoid confusion, carries six packets within a kit, three Decon 1 carrying a mixture of hydroxyethane and phenol which adsorbs and neutralizes the G-series nerve agents, and three Decon 2 with a mixture of chloramine B... 

Potassium Hydroxide (caustic potash) will work on certain chemicals and biological agents. Remarks under sodium hydroxide apply across the board to potassium hydroxide. Ammonia or Ammonium Hydroxide (household ammonia) can be used to decontaminate G nerve agents but takes longer than sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. SCBA or a special purpose mask is required when working with this product. Ammonium hydroxide needs no further mixing it is a water solution of ammonia. 

Nerve agent intoxication requires rapid decontamination to prevent further absorption by the patient and to prevent exposure to others ventilation when necessary, as well as... 

Skin Contact Don respiratory protective mask and remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with copious amounts of soap and water, 10 percent sodium carbonate solution, or 5 percent liquid household bleach. Rinse well with water to remove excess decontaminant. Administer Nerve Agent Antidote Kit, Mark I, only if local sweating and muscular twitching symptoms are observed. Seek medical attention immediately. 

Nerve agent intoxication requires rapid decontamination to prevent further absorption by the patient and to prevent exposure to others, ventilation when necessary, administration of antidotes, as well as supportive therapy. Skin decontamination is not necessary with exposure to vapor alone, but clothing should be removed to get rid of any trapped vapor. With nerve agents, there can be high airway resistance due to bronchoconstric-tion and secretions, and initial ventilation is often difficult. The restriction will decrease with atropine administration. Copious secretions which maybe thickened by atropine also impede ventilatory actions and will require frequent suctioning. For inhalation exposure to nerve agents, ventilation support is essential. 

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