CONTAMINATED REMAINS 18 JANUARY 91

File: 120396_sep96_decls45_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 4

Subject: CONTAMINATED REMAINS  18 JANUARY 91                             

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box ID: BX003204

Folder Title: CONTAMINATED REMAINS                                                                            

Document Number:          1

Folder SEQ  #:         13









              activated by lactic acid) have been more useful in overcoming inactivation by organic material in other
              settings.
                      Area treatment with lime would be expected to be of minimal importance. If anthrax is a
              consideration, soil decontamination aj?er bodies have been in the ground should be explored.
              Formaldehyde or other chemicals could be used shortly before excavating remains or after the completion
              of the process.


                      d. Type I water-penneable pouches would result in a dry cadaver largely consisting of bones.
              There is also a strong possibility that some proportion of cadavers would desiccate after desert burial and
              one would be left with bones and mununiried tissues. Leakage of contaminated material into the soil
              adjacent to the interment site would be likely.
                      Type II (or II-alpha) pouches would be safer in transport of cadavers from hospitals or from
              battlefield sites since blood, secretions, etc would be contained. Their use would result in putrefactive
              decomposition of the body after burial, but the extent of the process may be limited by the accumulation
              of microbial products in the confined space. If type 11 bags are carefully exhumed, local contamination of
              the envirorunent should be n-iinimized (a consideration with anthrax).


              2. Suggested procedures for casualties depends on the exposure scenario. Casualties contaminated
              exclusively by CW agents (ie, no
              BW contamination) should be surface treated by immersion in hypochlorite solution and processed for
              immediate transport to CONUS.


                      Casualties suspected of BW agent contamination with or without CW agents should be
              temporarily interred in the AOR. A suggested procedure for handling remains might be as follows:

 a. Cadavers should be placed in a II or 11-alpha impermeable bag at the first opportunity and
              transported to the site of interment.


                      b. Bags should be buried in a deep trench in sandy soil that does not drain into potable water
              supplies such as wells or oases.


                      c. Since an impermeable bag was used, the end result will be a bag containing bones and putrefied
              material in an unknown state of decomposition and liquefaction. Some experts believe that an opening
              (zipper or slit with a sharp instrument) should made in a dependent area of the body bag. 'ne advantage
              of this is that after interment dry bones and perhaps some mummified skin are expected to remain; this
              will be easier to handle at final processing and less of a psychological problem for the workers involved.
              'Me disadvantage is that there will be increased leakage into the soil during the period of initial burial;
              since the agents under consideration are all labile with the exception of anthrax spores, this may not be a
              major problem. Ground contamination can be expected to some degree even if impermeable bags are
              used, so even in the case of anthrax the point is really moot.


                      d. After an appropriate interval exhume the bag. If prior exposure to CW agents is suspected, it
              will be necessary to test for chemical agent and proceed with proper precautions as indicated.
                      If CW agent is not a consideration or if the tests for agent are negative, the following precautions
              should be observed for biological agents: In the case of botulinum toxin no unusual precautions are
              needed. In the cases of tulareniia or plague, vaccination should be performed as an additional precaution.

Document 4 f:/Week-36/BX003204/CONTAMINATED REMAINS/contaminated remains 18 january 91:1122961634153
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003204
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = CONTAMINATED REMAINS
Folder Seq # = 13
Subject = CONTAMINATED REMAINS 18 JANUARY 91
Document Seq # = 1
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 = 22-NOV-1996