DUSTY AGENTS IMPLICATIONS FOR CHEMICAL WARFARE PROTECTION

File: 970107_apr96_decls13_0003.txt
Page: 0003
Total Pages: 22

Subject: DUSTY AGENTS IMPLICATIONS FOR CHEMICAL WARFARE PROTECTION       

Unit: XVIII CORPS 

Parent Organization: ARCENT      

Box  ID: BX000047

Folder Title: CHEMICAL INFORMATION                                                                            

Document Number:          5

Folder Seq  #:         35



                                              SECRET
                                                             -C)JSCi-,ASSiC  AST-266OZ-055-88
                                                                             27 January 1988


                   DUSTY AG=:      INPLIC&TIONS FOR C M Ic&L WARFARE PROTECTION (u)


                                o  (S) Current NATO air-pe--meable      chemical-biologi
                                   radiological (CBR) protective suits are vulnerable to
                                   penetration by aerosols or dust smaller than about
                                   3.0 gm in size.     Such penetration is significantly
                                   enhanced when the aerosols are wind-driven.

                                0  (S) Certain classical vesicant (blister) agents or a
                                   V-type nerve agent, when adsorbed onto a finely divided
                                   carrier dust (i.e., a dusty agent), would pose a signif-
                                   icant battlefield hazard to soldiers wearing  a NATO air-
                                   permeable CBR overgarment.

            SIGNIFICANT         a  (S) The ability of currently fielded NATO equipment to
             FINDINGS              detect agents adsorbed onto carrier dust is susoect..

                                0  (S-NOFOP-N) There is evidence that the Iracis have used
                                   munitions containing a mustard (vesicant aseent) adsorbed
                                   onto dust, ia their war with Iran.     Other Middle @t
                                   countries are also aware of dusty agent technology.

                                9  (S-NOFORN) We assess the Soviet Union to be fully aware
                                   of dusty agent technology and of NATO's CBR suit aero-
                                   sol vulnerability.   The Soviets may have weaoonized a
t.

                                o  (C) Failure to improve the protective posture of.NATO
                                   equipped troops against dusty agents will encourage
                                   potential enemies to develop and possibly use dusty
                                   agents against them.















                                   NOT RELEA.SABLE TO FOREIGN N&TIONALS





                                                   iii


                                              SECRET

Document 22 f:/Week-15/BX000047/CHEMICAL INFORMATION/dusty agents implications for chemical warfare p:010297184311120
Control Fields 17
File Room = apr96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-15
Box ID = BX000047
Unit = XVIII CORPS
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = CHEMICAL INFORMATION
Folder Seq # = 35
Subject = DUSTY AGENTS IMPLICATIONS FOR CHEMICAL WARFARE P
Document Seq # = 5
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 02-JAN-1997