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File: 970107_apr96_decls13_0007.txt
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
DECLASSI@266OZ-055-88
0
-DOD DIR 5?ZP @danuary 1988
at a Ct of 120(Y mg'min/m3. HN3 aero- The finer the pore structure and the
sol having a mean mass diameter (MMD) greater the pore volume of the car-
of 2.0 um was equally as effective rier material, the greater' the in-
as the vapor. Aerosols smaller than crease in persistency of an.agent can
2.0 um were somewhat less effective, be expected to 'be (as long as @ the
and aerosols larger than 2.0 um were carrier does not promote the degrade-
more effective than the vapor. If we tion of the agent as with alumina
assume that H behaves in the same and tabutx). To a lesser extenr-, the
manner as HN3, then the percutaneous fine-pored carrier will also protect
vapor toxicity would be a good so- the adsorbed agent against the action
proximation of the 2.0-4m MMD aerosol of decorxtamiaants. This behavior
percutaneous toxicity. HN3 is not has been observed in attemots to
the only vesicant for which a 2.0-@m chemically regenerate Activated car-
MD has been shown to be effective. bons that have been loaded wi
A 2.0-vm MMD of T at a Ct as low as organic materials. Exposure of the
45 mg-min/m3 produced the same ery- loaded activated carbon to stron@ ox-
a@ in-
FN3 vapor. The 2.0-,-,m size range complete destruction of the or@anics
was considered imoortait bi UCT'@ re- loaded on the carbon, while the same
searchers because they found '@t to amount of nonadsorbed or@anic mater4-
be the best size particle for peze- a7 is readily decomoosed when exposed
tratin.@ clothing. to the regenerating agent. Decont=,.---
inatioa methods that emuloy heat and
(C) Obviously then, vesic--nts can a liquid or vaoor de contamirLar4-on
be very effective as dusts. If an a@ent can be expected to be more
nhalation threat is desired, then erfective than those emoloying a
many agents not sufficiently volatile powdered decontamination material
themselves could be disseminated as because of the protection afforded
a dust. If a percutaneous threat is by t:ne carrier material.
desired, T or Q and memders of the V-
type nerve agent family would. appear 3. PROTECTION AR-AINST DUSTY
to be ideal agents, AGMM (U)
Row easilv can dustv azents be decon- How is a soldier Protected from
minat:ed? (U chemical azents and does this ororec-
(C) The ease of decontamination of tion aDDly to dusEZ aszents? (U)
an agent adsorbed an a dusty carrier, (U) Chemical agents pose both respi-
as compared to the neat agent dissem- ratory (lung) and percutaneous (skin)
inated in the same particle size, de- hazards. Since many more agents are
ds in larme part on the properties effective through the luu.-s than
of the carrier material. A very- through the skirt, designers of
large-pored carrier material with chemical protection equipment are
limited pore volume does not'greatly more concerned with the respiratory
increase the persistence of an agent threat. Both NATO and Warsaw Pact
and should not provide it much pro- protective masks defend against res
tection from decontamination agents. piratory chemical agerxrs by filtering
3
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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