SuggFeatureMarch2004.qxd 2/12/04 9:31 AM Page 32 SecuritySecurity The VX Nerve Agent Understanding the risks of a deadly threat By Geary Randall Sugg TERRORISM AFFECTS EVERYONE, everywhere, cameras were mounted inside and outside the mall every day. It is fast becoming part of the SH&E pro- area. The FBI reviewed the footage after the incident Tfessional’s job to recognize the vulnerability risk fac- to develop a more thorough sequence of events. tors associated with it. Many HazMat training Following is a summary of those events. programs and seminars now cover weapons of mass A man of medium height and build, with short destruction (WMD). Although there are four basic black hair and a mustache, walked up to a tall trash types of WMD—chemical, ordnance, biological and receptacle and dropped a large brown paper sack radiological (COBRA) [DOJ(a)]—this article primari- into it. A busboy noticed that part of the sack was ly focuses on one deadly chemical threat commonly hanging out of the dispenser. He removed the sack known as the VX nerve agent. Although all nerve and set it on top of the trash receptacle so he could agents are deadly, the VX nerve agent is the “bad- properly install a fresh plastic liner. Moments later, a dest of the bad.” In the wrong hands and with the sharp popping sound was heard followed by a hiss- right devices, it could possibly be disseminated to ing noise (like that of an aerosol can). An elderly murder millions. man eating at a table less than 10 feet away from the The case study presented is hypothetical and sim- trash can immediately started choking and fell out of ilar to many training scenarios studied by first his chair to the floor. responders across the country. Because terrorists’ As the cashier dialed 9-1-1, the restaurant manag- potential targets include com- er knelt down beside the man to attempt a first-aid Geary Randall “Randy” Sugg is mercial and industrial facili- maneuver learned in a recent CPR class. Suddenly, a career professional firefighter, ties, SH&E students should the restaurant manager grabbed his chest, vomited holding the rank of captain with also benefit from studying it, and fell forward to the floor. Both men lay on the the Paducah (KY) Fire Dept. He is a as it is designed to stimulate floor, twitching and jerking as they began foaming at member of the International Assn. of Fire group discussion, and increase the mouth. Other people began gathering around Fighters Local 168 with more than awareness and understanding the two men, hoping they could somehow help, but 18 years’ experience in professional fire of what terrorism is and the they also began coughing and staggering. In addi- service. Off-duty, Sugg works as an risks associated with such an tion, many became confused and one individual intern in the Human Resources Dept. incident. The discussion fol- suddenly lost his vision. Paramedics soon arrived, for the City of Paducah, where he is lowing the case study pro- expecting to find one possible cardiac patient. What involved in workers’ compensation, vides answers to the challenge they found instead was an array of lifeless bodies. OSHA recordkeeping, risk management questions posed about it. They began triage and patient assessments, but and personnel. Sugg holds a within seconds they, too, began to experience similar B.S. in Business and is pursuing an The Case Study symptoms and lost consciousness. M.S. in Occupational Safety and Health One warm summer Sat- When a local fire engine company arrived, pan- at Murray State University. urday afternoon around 2:00 icked customers were pouring out of the mall, trip- He is a student member of ASSE pm, a security camera cap- ping, falling and running over each other. Many and AIHA, and belongs to the tured an act of terrorism occur- were coughing and some appeared to be choking Rho Sigma Kappa honor society for ing inside the food court of a and gasping for breath. When the fire company offi- occupational safety and health. crowded shopping mall. Other cer stepped off the truck, a mall security guard 32 PROFESSIONAL SAFETY MARCH 2004 www.asse.org SuggFeatureMarch2004.qxd 2/12/04 9:31 AM Page 33 informed him that he had observed the situation on FigureFigure 1 1 monitors located in the securi- ty office and had immediately Chemical Structure called for full evacuation of the facility. He said he counted at of VX Nerve Agent least eight people down and showing no signs of move- ment. The fire officer tried to contact the EMTs, but received no response. After quickly assessing the situation, he concluded that a fast-acting airborne hazard was inside, requiring Level A protection. Although difficult to resist the temptation to rush in, he knew regular structural firefighting suits with SCBAs would not offer the protection needed for such an atmosphere. Plus, it was not yet Biological & Chemical Weapons: known what deadly agent had been released. The A Brief Overview fire officer then contacted central dispatch and Biological and chemical weapons have been used requested that a second alarm be given for police throughout history in warfare and terrorist activi- who could provide traffic control and that more ties. As far back as 600 BC, the Assyrians contami- EMS workers be summoned. He also requested that nated the water supply of their enemies with Rye the county HazMat team be activated. Ergot. When the plague broke out among the ranks of the Tartar army during its siege of Kaffa in 1346, Challenge Question 1 they used catapults to hurl the corpses over the city’s What signs and symptoms did the victims in the walls in order to start an epidemic. Even Napoleon food court area exhibit? Autopsies revealed that the attempted to infect the people of Mantua with elderly man and restaurant manager died within a swamp fever during his Italian campaign in 1797. few minutes. What type of hazard (e.g., inhalation, The Japanese army reportedly used various biologi- skin contact) did they likely encounter to cause cal agents during World War II to contaminate food death so quickly? and water supplies of Chinese cities (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute). Challenge Question 2 Eventually, chemical weapons were intentionally Why did the company officer in this scenario developed and used. Mustard gas and nerve agents elect not to have his firefighters rush in for a search- are the two major classes of chemical weapons that and-rescue immediately on arrival? pose a significant threat to the world’s population. Challenge Question 3 Mustard was first synthesized in the early 1800s and Assuming drugs were available, how would you used by the Germans against the British at Ypres, treat a patient who was exposed to VX nerve agent? Belgium, on July 12, 1917, during World War I. The use of mustard and chlorine resulted in approxi- What Is VX? mately 400,000 casualties during that war. Even VX nerve agent is one of the most dangerous though the Geneva Convention of 1925 prohibited manufactured chemicals. It was first developed in the use of chemical weapons, production continued Port Down, Wiltshire, England in 1952, where its and many countries began to stockpile them. devastating effects were tested. The U.S. received it Since World War I, it is believed that mustard gas by trading information on thermonuclear weapons has been used by Great Britain in the Middle East; to Great Britain. (The agent was featured in the film the French in Morocco; Italy against Ethiopia in 1936; The Rock, as a somewhat green liquid used by a ter- Japan against China in 1937; Poland against rorist to threaten San Francisco.) Germany in 1939; the Russians in central Asia; Egypt Classes of nerve agents have not changed in more against Yemen from 1963 to 1967; Iraq against Iran than 50 years. What has changed, however, is the during the Iran-Iraq War; and Iraq against the Kurds understanding of their potency. New considerations [Reutter(b)]. Terrorists have also used these agents include the fact that more women (who may be on civilian populations in Japan. On March 20, 1995, affected differently than men) are now serving in the members of the Shinrikyo religious sect released military and the growing likelihood that civilians sarin at several points in the Tokyo subway system, will be targeted. Concern regarding the nonlethal killing 11 and injuring more than 5,500 people (Ohbu but delayed effects that may be produced by nerve and Yamashina 587). agents is growing as well (Reutter). Nerve agents consisting of basically two classes, www.asse.org MARCH 2004 PROFESSIONAL SAFETY 33 SuggFeatureMarch2004.qxd 2/12/04 9:31 AM Page 34 TableTable 1 1 Chemical Agent Comparison: Symptoms & Hazards Symbol/ Common Name Agent Type Symptoms Hazard GB (sarin) Nerve agents Dim or blurred vision; pinpointing of the Skin dose effective in minutes to GD (soman) pupils; running nose; salivation; nausea and hours. Respiratory dose effective with- GA (tabun) vomiting; sweating; tightness of chest; diffi- in seconds to minutes. Skin exposure VX culty breathing; convulsions; loss of con- has a better survival rate but VX is sciousness; tachycardia; incontinence; death. fatal if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. These agents are extremely toxic and lethal. HD Blister agent, Blisters and reddening of skin; eye pain, Although it absorbs rapidly into the commonly reddening and damage; sneezing and skin, eye effects may appear in a few called “mus- coughing; airway irritation and damage; hours; respiratory effects and blisters tard” diarrhea, fever and apathy.