Chemical Protective Clothing for Law Enforcement Patrol Officers and Emergency Medical Services When Responding to Terrorism with Chemical Weapons

• NCJ Number: 189888
• Author(s): Victor J. Arca; Stephen M. Marshall; William A. Lake; Paul D. Fedele
• Date Published: November 1999
• Length: 27 pages
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; US Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM)
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded August 10, 2001

Annotation

This document contains information related to the testing of commercially available chemical protective suits.

Abstract

Man In Simulant Testing (MIST) is the preferred scientific method of determining the overall Physiological Protective Dosage Factor (PPDF) of protective suit ensembles to be used for protection against chemical warfare agents (CWA). MIST testing evaluates only the protection provided by the suit ensemble against vapor absorption through the skin. Respiratory protection is not evaluated in this testing. This testing exposes the protective suit and wearer to the CWA simulant Methyl Salicylate (MeS) in a controlled chemical environment and uses self-adhesive skin samplers that absorb chemical vapors at almost the same rate that human skin does. These samplers are placed at specific body locations to measure the amount of CWA simulant being absorbed by the skin. Evaluation of the protection provided by the suit is based upon this absorption using the Body Region Hazard Analysis (BRHA) model. The MIST testing was performed on commercially available standard protective clothing ensembles that may be worn by law enforcement personnel or EMS personnel, in this case, the Maryland State Police. Respiratory protection was not evaluated in this testing. During the 30-minute exposure period, subjects performed law enforcement activities that police officers might participate in at the scene of a terrorist incident where a chemical bomb/device was used. It was concluded that personnel could be equipped with an effective low-cost clothing ensemble when responding to an incident of CW terrorism. An ensemble consisting of a high quality respirator, butyl rubber gloves, and a commercial chemical overgarment provides some liquid-droplet and vapor protection to the responder. This level of protection is excellent for personnel working on the perimeter (cold zone only) of an incident and also provides some protection in the area around the cold/warm zone boundary. However, this clothing ensemble is inadequate protection for patrol officers in areas where significant levels of CW agent vapor concentration may be present (hot zone). 8 figures, 5 tables, and 7 references