USAMRICD

Often smell of garlic, horseradish, and/or mustard on body. Oily droplets on skin from ambient sources. Urine thiodiglycol. Tissue biopsy (USAMRICD). 

Standing Operating Procedure for Obtaining, Shipping, Receipt and Storage of Biomedical Samples. U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD), Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Undated. 

FIGURE 2.6. Captain Edward Vedder, the father USAMRICD. Photo courtesy of Mrs Martha Vedder. 

USAMRICD (2000). Riot-control agents CS, CN. In Medical Management of Chemical Casualties Handbook. Chemical Casualty Care Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Edgewood, MD. 

USAMRICD (2007). Medical Management of Chemical Casualties Handbook. USAMRICD, Aberdeen Proving Ground. 

The USAMRICD television course Medical Response to Chemical Warfare and Terrorism has been viewed (at least in part) by about 3,500 military personnel who registered for the course. The institute has also developed several distance learning products in this area. 

U.S. Army Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD)... 

The Army s center for chemical defense, USAMRICD Web page has several sections of interest. The first in an extensive bibliography by year of all the book chapters and published scientific papers produced by the USAMRICD staff. The next section of importance is a downloadable version of the Institute s 1995 edition of the Medical Management of Chemical Casualties handbook. The links section may not be functioning, but could be a good gateway to other sites. 

Sciuto, A. M., Moran, T. S., Narula, A., Forster, J. S., Romano, J. A., Jr. (2001). Disruption of gas exchangefollowing exposure to the chemical threat agent phosgene Implications for human performance (Rep. No. USAMRICD TR-01-06). Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. 

Requests for reprints should be sent to William J. Smith, USAMRICD, ATTN MRMC-UV-PB, 3100 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5400. 

Sabourin, C.L., Hayes T.L., and Snider T.H., 2001. A medical research and evaluation facility study on Canadian reactive skin decontamination lotion. Final report, USAMRICD, Edgewood Area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. 

When nerve agents are absorbed into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, they cause an increased motility of the GI tract, increased secretion by the glands in the wall of the GI tract, and include cramps, salivation, diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, and involuntary defecation (USAMRICD, 2000 Seevers et al., 2002). 

Da. The toxins are made up of two polypeptide chains (A and B) connected by a disulfide bond. The cytotoxicity of ricin is due to inhibition of protein synthesis, caused when the B chain binds to cell-surface receptors and the toxin-receptor complex is taken into the cell, and the A chain that has endonuclease activity and, at extremely low concentrations, will inhibit DNA replication and protein synthesis (USAMRICD, 2005). Ricin is stable under ambient conditions and can be detoxified by heat at 80°C for 10 min, or 50°C for an hour at a pH of 7.8. Chlorine inactivates over 99.4% by 100 mg/L FAC in 20 min. Low chlorine concentrations, such as 10 mg/L FAC, as well as iodine at up to 16 mg/L will have no effect on ricin (USAMRICD, 2005). 

The T-2 mycotoxins have a low molecular mass of 250-500 Da, are nonvolatile compounds produced by filamentous fiingi or molds of the genus Fusarium, and are extremely stable in the environment. Of the multiple mechanisms of actions, many are poorly understood. However, their most notable effect stems from their ability to rapidly inhibit protein and nucleic acid synthesis. Thus, they are markedly cytotoxic to rapidly dividing cells, such as in the bone marrow, G1 tract (mucosal epithelium), skin, and germ cells. This cytotoxic effect imitates the hematopoietic and lymphoid effect of radiation sickness, thus the mycotoxins are referred to as radiomimetic agents. The mycotoxins also alter ceU-membrane strucmre and function, inhibit mitochondrial respiration, and inactivate certain enzymes. Decontamination requires the use of hypochlorite solution under alkaline conditions, such as 1% sodium hypochlorite and 0.1 M NaOH with 1 h contact time (USAMRICD, 2005). 

USAMRICD (U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Defense) (2005). Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook, Fort Detrick, MD, pp. 168-I7I I83-I85 189-192 198-200. 

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