TAB B - Acronym Listing/Glossary
This TAB provides a listing of acronyms found in this report. Additionally, the Glossary section provides definitions for selected technical terms which are not found in common usage.
AO................................................................................................................. Area of Operations
ATO..................................................................................................................Air Tasking Order
AWACS.............................................................................Airborne Warning and Control System
BM3................................................................................................Boatswains Mate Third Class
BUC..........................................................................................................................Chief Builder
CAM.......................................................................................................Chemical Agent Monitor
CBR............................................................................................Chemical Biological Radiological
CENTCOM......................................................................................................Central Command
CDO.........................................................................................................Command Duty Officer
CFF....................................................... ..................... ..Critical Facility Force
DAO......................................................................................................... Defense Attach� Office
DOD...............................................................................................Department of Defense (U.S.)
EER.............................................................................................Environmental Evaluation Report
EOD.................................................................................................Explosive Ordnance Disposal
EPMU-2...............................................Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit Number Two
EQCM......................................................................................Master Chief Equipment Operator
ESG.................................................................................................Environmental Support Group
HDC....................................................................................................Harbor Defense Command
HMCS.........................................................................................Hospital Corpsman Senior Chief
HQ or Hq.................................................................................................................Headquarters
IAD......................................................................................Investigation and Analysis Directorate
IMEF..........................................................................................First Marine Expeditionary Force
JNAF.......................................................................................................Jubayl Naval Air Facility
JCMEC.......................................................................Joint Captured Material Exploitation Center
KAANB........................................................................................... King Abdul Aziz Naval Base
KM...............................................................................................................................Kilometers
KTO...............................................................................................Kuwaiti Theater of Operations
MAG.................................................................................................................Marine Air Group
MAW.................................................................................................................Marine Air Wing
MEPA..........................................................Meteorological and Environmental Protection Agency
MT...................................................................................................................Measurement Tons
MOAW......................................................................................Ministry of Agriculture and Water
MIUW......................................................................................Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare
MOPP.................................................................................Mission Orientated Protective Posture
NMCB..................................................................................Naval Mobile Construction Battalion
NAF..................................................................................................................Naval Air Facility
NBC..........................................................................................Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical
NCR.................................................................................................Naval Construction Regiment
ODS/DS..............................................................................Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
OIC....................................................................................................................Officer In Charge
OSAGWI.......................................................Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses
OSD...............................................................................Office of the Secretary of Defense (U.S.)
PPM....................................................................................................................Parts Per Million
PSHD........................................................................................Port Security and Harbor Defense
PSU...................................................................................................................Port Security Unit
PS2...............................................................................................Port Securityman Second Class
RAOC..............................................................................................Rear Area Operations Center
RCEG........................................................................Royal Commission Environmental Guidelines
Security Classification Symbols: (U) ............................................................................Unclassified
(S)..................................................................................................................................SECRET
(TS)........................................................................................................................TOP SECRET
SEM...............................................................................................Scanning Electron Microscope
TACC..................................................................................................Tactical Air Control Center
UIC...........................................................................................................Unit Identification Code
UK.......................................................................................................................United Kingdom
UN.........................................................................................................................United Nations
U.S...........................................................................................................................United States
USCG..................................................................................................United States Coast Guard
USPACECOM..............................................................................United States Space Command
Glossary
Detection Paper |
Detection paper relies on certain dyes being soluble in chemical warfare agents. Normally, two dyes and one pH indicator are mixed with cellulose fibers in a paper without special coloring (unbleached). When a drop of chemical warfare agent is absorbed by the paper, it dissolves one of the pigments. Mustard agent dissolves a red dye and nerve agent a yellow. In addition, VX (a form of liquid nerve agent) causes the indicator to turn to blue which, together with the yellow, will become green/green-black. Detection paper can thus be used to distinguish between three different types of chemical warfare agents. A disadvantage with the papers is that many other substances can also dissolve the pigments. Consequently, they should not be located in places where drops of substances such as solvent, fat, oil, or fuel can fall on them. Drops of water produce no reaction. Depending on the spot diameter and density on the detection paper, it is possible to gauge the original size of the droplets and the degree of contamination. Reference: Detection of Chemical Weapons: An overview of methods for the detection of chemical warfare agents; homepage: http://www.opcw.nl/chemhaz/detect.htm. |
Lesishmaniasis |
Lesishmaniasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by sandflies. Reference: The Merck Manual, Sixteenth Edition, 1992, page 232. |
M256A1 Chemical Agent Detection Kit |
The M256A1 kit is a portable, expendable item capable of detecting and identifying hazardous concentrations of chemical agent. The M256 kit is used after a chemical attack to determine if it is safe to unmask. The M256A1 kit has replaced the M256 kit. The only difference between the two kits is that the M256A1 kit will detect lower levels of nerve agent. This improvement was accomplished by using an eel enzyme for the nerve test in the M256A1 kit in place of the horse enzyme used in the M256 kit. Reference: Worldwide Chemical Detection Equipment Handbook, p. 430. |
M8A1 Chemical Alarm |
The M8A1 is an automatic chemical agent detection and warning system designed to detect the presence of nerve agent vapors or inhalable aerosols. The M8A1 will automatically signal the presence of the nerve agent in the air by providing troops with both an audible and visible warning. The M8A1 was fielded to replace the wet chemical M8 detector with a dry system -- which eliminated the M229 refill kit, the logistic burden and associated costs. The M8A1 operates in a fixed, portable, or vehicle mounted configuration. Reference: Worldwide Chemical Detection Equipment Handbook, p. 412. |
Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) |
The wearing of MOPP gear provides soldiers protection against all known chemical agents, live biological agents, and toxins. MOPP gear consists of the following items:
When a person is wearing MOPP gear, they can not work for very long nor can they work very fast. They may also suffer mental distress as a result of feeling closed in and will also suffer from heat stress and heat exhaustion when working in warm temperatures and at high work rates. The MOPP concept arose from the need to balance individual protection with the threat, temperature, and urgency of the mission. Commanders can raise or lower the amount of protection through five levels of MOPP. In addition, commanders can exercise a mask-only option. MOPP Zero: Individuals must carry their protective mask with them at all times. Their remaining MOPP Gear must be readily available (i.e., within the work area, fighting position, living space, etc.). MOPP Level One: Individuals wear their overgarmet. They must carry the rest of their MOPP gear. MOPP Level Two: Individuals wear their overgarmet and overboots and carry the mask with hood and gloves. |
MOPP Level Three: Individuals wear their overgarmet, overboots, and mask with hood. They carry the gloves. MOPP Level Four: Individuals wear all their MOPP gear. Source: U.S. Army Field Manual 3-4, Headquarters Department of the Army, Washington, DC, 21 October 1985 |
|
Mustard |
Mustard "gas" refers to several manufactured chemicals including sulfur mustard. They do not occur naturally in the environment. The term gas is in quotes because mustard "gas" does not behave as a gas under ordinary conditions. Mustard "gas" is really a liquid and is not likely to change into a gas immediately if it is released at ordinary temperatures. As a pure liquid, it is colorless and odorless, but when mixed with other chemicals, it looks brown and has a garlic-like smell. Mustard was made in large amounts during World Wars I and II and used in World War I. It was reportedly used in the Iran-Iraq war in 1984-1988. It is not presently used in the United States, except for research purposes. The only way that mustard can enter the environment (other than through use as a weapon) is through an accidental release. Some evaporates from water and soil into air. It does not easily go into water, and the amount that does breaks down quickly. It is more stable in soil than in water but still breaks down within days, depending on the outside temperature (cold weather makes it more stable). It does not go from soil to groundwater. Mustard "gas" does not build up in the tissues of animals because it breaks down so quickly. Mustard "gas" makes your eyes burn, your eyelids swell, and causes you to blink a lot. If you breathe mustard "gas," it can cause coughing, bronchitis, and long-term respiratory disease. References: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 1992. Toxicological profile for mustard "gas." Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. |
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