July 2005 System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) Summary Guide for the Selection of Chemical Agent and Toxic Industrial Material Detection Equipment for The U.S. Department of Homeland Emergency First Responders, Guide Security (DHS) established the System 100­04, Volume I and II Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) Program to assist emergency responders This document focuses specifically on chemical agent (CA) and toxic making procurement decisions. industrial material (TIM) detection equipment and was developed to Located within the Science and assist the emergency responder community in the evaluation and Technology Directorate (S&T) of DHS, purchase of detection equipment. The information contained in the the SAVER Program conducts objective guide was obtained through literature searches and market surveys. operational tests on commercial Vendors were contacted multiple times during the preparation of the equipment and systems and provides those results along with other relevant guide to ensure data accuracy, and information is supplemented with equipment information to the emergency test data from other sources (e.g., Department of Defense) if response community in an operationally available. The guide is an update of the Guide for the Selection of useful form. SAVER provides Chemical Agent and Toxic Industrial Material Detection Equipment information on equipment that falls for Emergency First Responders, NIJ Guide 100­04, published in within the categories listed in the DHS Authorized Equipment List (AEL). June 2000. The SAVER Program is supported by a network of technical agents who perform Background assessment and validation activities. Further, SAVER focuses primarily on The Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) at the National two main questions for the emergency Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), supported by the responder community: “What equipment is available?” and “How does it Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Technical Support perform?” Working Group (TSWG), the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical and To contact the SAVER Program Biological Center (ECBC), and the Interagency Board for Equipment Support Office Standardization and Interoperability (IAB), has developed chemical Telephone: 877­336­2752 and biological defense equipment guides. The guides focus on E­mail: [email protected] chemical and biological equipment in areas of detection, personal Visit the SAVER Web site: protection, decontamination, and communication. https://www.rkb.us/saver Reference herein to any specific commercial The primary purpose of the Guide for the Selection of Chemical products, processes, or services by trade Agent and Toxic Industrial Material Detection Equipment for name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise Emergency First Responders is to provide emergency responders does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United with information to aid them in the selection and utilization of CA States Government. Neither the United States and TIM detection equipment. The guide is intended to be more Government nor any of its employees make practical than technical and provides information on a variety of any warranty, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose for any specific commercial product, process, or service referenced herein. The nerve agents considered in the guide factors that should be considered when are described below. The term volatility purchasing and using detection equipment, refers to a substance’s ability to become a including sensitivity, detection states, and vapor at relatively low temperatures. A portability to name a few. Due to the large highly volatile (nonpersistent) substance number of chemical detection equipment poses a greater respiratory hazard than a less items identified in the guide, the guide is volatile (persistent) substance. separated into two volumes. Volume I represents the actual guide and Volume II serves as a supplement to Volume I since it • GA: A low volatility persistent CA that contains the detection equipment data sheets is taken up through skin contact and only. inhalation of the substance as a gas or aerosol. Chemical Agents • GB: A volatile nonpersistent CA that is Chemical agents are chemical substances that mainly taken up through inhalation. are intended for use in warfare or terrorist • GD: A moderately volatile CA that can activities to kill, seriously injure, or seriously be taken up by inhalation or skin incapacitate people through their physiological contact. effects. A CA attacks the organs of the human body in such a way that it prevents those organs • GF: A low volatility persistent CA that from functioning normally. The results are is taken up through skin contact and usually disabling or even fatal. Chemical inhalation of the substance either as a agents, when referred to in the guide, refer to gas or aerosol. nerve and blister agents only. The most VX common CAs are the nerve agents, GA • : A low volatility persistent CA that (Tabun), GB (Sarin), GD (Soman), GF, and can remain on material, equipment, and VX; the blister agents, HD (sulfur mustard) and terrain for long periods. Uptake is HN (nitrogen mustard); and the arsenical mainly through the skin but also through vesicants, L (Lewisite). inhalation of the substance as a gas or aerosol. Nerve Agents Nerve agents, either as a gas, aerosol, or liquid, enter the body through inhalation or All nerve agents belong to the chemical group through the skin. Poisoning may also occur of organo­phosphorus compounds; many through consumption of liquids or foods common herbicides and pesticides also belong contaminated with nerve agents. The route to this chemical group. Nerve agents are stable, of entry also influences the symptoms easily dispersed, highly toxic, and have rapid developed and, to some extent, the sequence effects when absorbed both through the skin of the different symptoms. Generally, the and the respiratory system. Nerve agents can be poisoning works fastest when the agent is manufactured by means of fairly simple absorbed through the respiratory system chemical techniques. The raw materials are rather than other routes because the lungs inexpensive but some are subject to the controls contain numerous blood vessels and the of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the inhaled nerve agent can rapidly diffuse into Australia Group Agreement. the 2 the blood circulation and thus reach the target in most organic solvents but has negligible organs. If a person is exposed to a high solubility in water. In aqueous solutions, concentration of nerve agent, death may occur mustard agent decomposes into nonpoisonous within a couple of minutes. products by means of hydrolysis but, since only dissolved mustard agent reacts, the The poisoning works slower when the agent is decomposition proceeds very slowly. Oxidants absorbed through the skin. Because nerve such as chloramine, however, react violently agents are somewhat fat­soluble, they can with mustard agent, forming nonpoisonous easily penetrate the outer layers of the skin, but oxidation products. Consequently, these it takes longer for the poison to reach the substances are used for the decontamination of deeper blood vessels. Consequently, the first mustard agent. symptoms do not occur until 20 minutes to 30 minutes after the initial exposure but Arsenical vesicants are not as common or as subsequently, the poisoning process may be stable as the sulfur or nitrogen mustards. All rapid if the total dose of nerve agent is high. arsenical vesicants are colorless to brown liquids. They are more volatile than mustard Blister Agents and have fruity to geranium­like odors. These types of vesicants are much more dangerous as There are two major families of blister agents liquids than as vapors. Absorption of either (vesicants): sulfur mustard (HD) and nitrogen vapor or liquid through the skin in adequate mustard (HN), and the arsenical vesicants (L). dosage may lead to systemic intoxication or All blister agents are persistent and may be death. employed in the form of colorless gases and liquids. They burn and blister the skin or any Most blister agents are relatively persistent other part of the body they contact. Blister and are readily absorbed by all parts of the agents are likely to be used to produce body. Poisoning may also occur through casualties rather than to kill, although exposure consumption of liquids or foods contaminated to such agents can be fatal. with blister agents. These agents cause inflammation, blisters, and general destruction In its pure state, mustard agent is colorless and of tissues. almost odorless. It earned its name as a result of an early production method that resulted in In the form of gas or liquid, mustard agent an impure product with a mustard­like smell. attacks the skin, eyes, lungs, and Mustard agent is also claimed to have a gastrointestinal tract. Internal organs, mainly characteristic odor similar to rotten onions. blood­generating organs, may also be injured However, the sense of smell is dulled after as a result of mustard agent being taken up only a few breaths so after initial exposure the through the skin or lungs and transported into odor can no longer be distinguished. In the body. Since mustard agent gives no addition, mustard agent can cause injury to the immediate symptoms upon contact, a delay of respiratory system in concentrations that are