Docimo & Associates' Client Support: Air Monitoring Rational for WMD

When responding to a WMD incident it is critical that the agent be identified as soon as possible. The thought process should involve protecting oneself and detecting the agent or agents of harm. Most responders under utilize there detectors in standard hazmat response and seem to get away with it, but in a WMD event the importance of monitoring is critical in making key decisions such as, determining a hoax, establishing zones, making evacuation decisions, mandating PPE, and decontamination needs. Conventional and non-conventional monitoring devices must be utilized to there fullest in order to protect the responders and the community they protect. It is not the intention of this outline to cover all of the information related to air monitoring strategies but to provide the user with an sample air monitoring procedure, rational and its important role in emergency response.

Four Gas Detector's.

Since it is difficult to separate an industrial chemical response and a WMD event for the initial call standard HAZMAT protocols should be utilized. Thus,

OSHA requires conventional monitoring.
Provides indication of risk, including IDLH atmospheres.
Most common use would be at an incident involving incendiaries.

When responding to a potential terrorist incident, you need to determine pH, oxygen levels, presence of flammable/combustible gases, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, or the presence of any other toxic gases, then the presence of a WMD agent.

Intermediate Detection Devices / Photoionization Detector (PID).

Although not common today, due to increasing concerns for terrorism, it will be more common in the future. Sometimes referred to as a total vapor survey instrument it has the ability to detect wide variety of gases in small amounts. The PID is fast becoming an essential tool of the response teams. The rational behind a PID in WMD response include,

Can identify potential areas of concern and possible leaks/contamination.
Presumably, all terrorism agents have ionization potentials below 10.6 eV.
Will detect agent at the ICt50 or LCt50 levels.
Biggest advantage is its sensitivity, which reads from 0.1 to 2,000 PPM.
Chemicals with a PEL or TLV of less than 500-PPM are considered toxic.

When responding to a potential terrorist incident, you need to determine pH, oxygen levels, presence of flammable/combustible gases, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, or the presence of any other toxic gases, then the presence of a WMD agent.

Colorimetric Sampling

When looking for an unknown, knowledge about colorimetric sampling, chemistry, and street sense is absolutely essential. Most manufacturers provide a flow chart that provides a guideline. An entire colorimetric tube set samples for a wide variety of chemical hazards and effectively covers the whole spectrum. Some military devices rely heavily on colorimetric technology. A recent report from the Aberdeen Proving Grounds found that tube technology preformed well and should be considered in the WMD monitoring strategies.

Direct Reading Nerve and Blister Monitors

Direct-read instruments are divided into two groups, those used in an emergency response mode and those pre-positioned for special events. Our focus will be on the emergency response aspect of these instruments. In this arena the SAW Mini-CAD as it is called is fairly new to the warfare agent arena, it has some capabilities other instruments do not.

Because of its method of detection, it is sometimes less susceptible to false positives. The SAW uses a pair of piezoelectric crystals that detect the mass of the agents being absorbed into the coatings on the sensor surface. This absorption causes a change in the resonance frequency of the instrument. The change is compared against those stored in the memory, and if it matches the algorithm for one of the agents, the detector will alarm. The sensors then heat up to remove the agents from the sensor. The SAW uses readily available lithium batteries or it can use a rechargeable battery. The SAW has many of the features that other civilian detectors have, including alarms and data logging. The SAW also has the ability to detect both nerve and blister agents at the same time without toggling between the two agents.

Your HazMat Teams need to develop sound scientific methods to identify unknown materials. The Docimo based response system is one method of identifying these hazards. The sampling for a terrorist agent will present many challenges that can be overcome through the pre-planning process. A process of elimination should be used, and all available tools should be in a HazMat team's toolbox.

			Air Monitoring Rational for WMD by Frank Docimo - Hazardous Material Officer
		When responding to a WMD incident it is critical that the agent be identified as soon as possible. The thought process should involve protecting oneself and detecting the agent or agents of harm. Most responders under utilize there detectors in standard hazmat response and seem to get away with it, but in a WMD event the importance of monitoring is critical in making key decisions such as, determining a hoax, establishing zones, making evacuation decisions, mandating PPE, and decontamination needs. Conventional and non-conventional monitoring devices must be utilized to there fullest in order to protect the responders and the community they protect. It is not the intention of this outline to cover all of the information related to air monitoring strategies but to provide the user with an sample air monitoring procedure, rational and its important role in emergency response. Four Gas Detector's. Since it is difficult to separate an industrial chemical response and a WMD event for the initial call standard HAZMAT protocols should be utilized. Thus, OSHA requires conventional monitoring. Provides indication of risk, including IDLH atmospheres. Most common use would be at an incident involving incendiaries. When responding to a potential terrorist incident, you need to determine pH, oxygen levels, presence of flammable/combustible gases, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, or the presence of any other toxic gases, then the presence of a WMD agent. Intermediate Detection Devices / Photoionization Detector (PID). Although not common today, due to increasing concerns for terrorism, it will be more common in the future. Sometimes referred to as a total vapor survey instrument it has the ability to detect wide variety of gases in small amounts. The PID is fast becoming an essential tool of the response teams. The rational behind a PID in WMD response include, Can identify potential areas of concern and possible leaks/contamination. Presumably, all terrorism agents have ionization potentials below 10.6 eV. Will detect agent at the ICt50 or LCt50 levels. Biggest advantage is its sensitivity, which reads from 0.1 to 2,000 PPM. Chemicals with a PEL or TLV of less than 500-PPM are considered toxic. When responding to a potential terrorist incident, you need to determine pH, oxygen levels, presence of flammable/combustible gases, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, or the presence of any other toxic gases, then the presence of a WMD agent. Colorimetric Sampling When looking for an unknown, knowledge about colorimetric sampling, chemistry, and street sense is absolutely essential. Most manufacturers provide a flow chart that provides a guideline. An entire colorimetric tube set samples for a wide variety of chemical hazards and effectively covers the whole spectrum. Some military devices rely heavily on colorimetric technology. A recent report from the Aberdeen Proving Grounds found that tube technology preformed well and should be considered in the WMD monitoring strategies. Direct Reading Nerve and Blister Monitors Direct-read instruments are divided into two groups, those used in an emergency response mode and those pre-positioned for special events. Our focus will be on the emergency response aspect of these instruments. In this arena the SAW Mini-CAD as it is called is fairly new to the warfare agent arena, it has some capabilities other instruments do not. Because of its method of detection, it is sometimes less susceptible to false positives. The SAW uses a pair of piezoelectric crystals that detect the mass of the agents being absorbed into the coatings on the sensor surface. This absorption causes a change in the resonance frequency of the instrument. The change is compared against those stored in the memory, and if it matches the algorithm for one of the agents, the detector will alarm. The sensors then heat up to remove the agents from the sensor. The SAW uses readily available lithium batteries or it can use a rechargeable battery. The SAW has many of the features that other civilian detectors have, including alarms and data logging. The SAW also has the ability to detect both nerve and blister agents at the same time without toggling between the two agents. Your HazMat Teams need to develop sound scientific methods to identify unknown materials. The Docimo based response system is one method of identifying these hazards. The sampling for a terrorist agent will present many challenges that can be overcome through the pre-planning process. A process of elimination should be used, and all available tools should be in a HazMat team's toolbox.