Contact Transfer of VX from Contaminated Grass onto Army Combat Uniform
Abstract
Toxicological investigations have shown that exposure to surfaces contaminated with chemical warfare agents (CWAs) can present a contact hazard. Previously, we developed standardized protocols for determining contact transfer (exposure) of agent from contaminated soils onto Army Combat Boot soles and Army Combat Uniforms (ACUs). We adapted those protocols to determine the direct contact transfer of CWA from contaminated leaf surfaces onto ACU swatches. Grass leaves (Echinochloa crus-galli) from intact, living plants were individually contaminated with 1 L of O-ethyl-S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methyl phosphonothioate (VX). Post-dissemination, leaves were removed, and three layers of ACU were placed atop each contaminated leaf, so that the bottom ACU layer was in direct contact with the VX-contaminated leaf surface. The ACU layers were covered with a Plexiglas disk (0.6 cm thick 9.8 cm diameter) to equally distribute the force resulting from central placement of a standard mass atop the disk. Total proportions of VX transferred from contaminated leaves to ACU at 0.017 (1 min), 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 4 h post-dissemination were approximately 71, 5, 0.8, 0.3, and 0.1 , respectively, of the VX disseminated per leaf. Trace amounts of VX were detected in the third layers of ACU at times 0.017 and 0.25 h post-dissemination.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1024863
Entities
People
- Mark V. Haley
- Michael Simini
- Michael W. Busch
- Richard J. Lawrence
- Ronald T. Checkai
Organizations
- Edgewood Chemical Biological Center