DoD Module 7 Chemical Agent Detection Equipment

HazMat Certification Study Guide2

3 M8 Chemical Agent Detector Paper Cost: $4.50/Booklet (25 Sheets/Booklet) Capability: Qualitative detection of liquid nerve and blister agents with color change in 30 seconds Limitations: Gross liquid detection only (not vapor) Prone to false positives Best Use: Initial Reconnaissance

HazMat Certification Study Guide4 M8 Chemical Agent Detector Paper One of the first items which might be used is chemical detector paper. M8 paper provides a qualitative detection (color change) in the presence of liquid nerve or blister agents. It will not detect vapors. The color change is compared to the color printed on the inside cover to presumptively identify the agent; however, the paper will respond to a number of other chemicals, mainly organic solvents.

HazMat Certification Study Guide5 M8 paper is best used during initial reconnaissance of the incident site, to screen suspicious liquids. If no color change is indicated, nerve and blister agents can probably be eliminated. A positive response should be combined with other information before a conclusion that agent is actually present is reached.

HazMat Certification Study Guide6 M9 Chemical Agent Detector Paper Cost: $6.77 / Roll (available in both booklets and rolls) Capability: Qualitative detection of liquid nerve and blister agents with color change in 20 seconds Limitations: Liquid detection only (not vapor) Prone to false positives (less so than the paper) Single color change Best Use: Detection of contamination on protective clothing

HazMat Certification Study Guide7 M9 Chemical Agent Detector Paper M9 paper will change color to red in the presence of liquid chemical agent droplets. It has a sticky back so that it can be fastened to protective garments and equipment to disclose contamination. It has the ability to “wick” very small droplets to make visible spots where none would appear on M8 paper.

HazMat Certification Study Guide8 M-9 paper is also less sensitive to other chemicals than the M8 paper, but does not differentiate between nerve and blister agent. The key point with the papers is that they are for liquids only.

HazMat Certification Study Guide9 A semi-quantitative indication of the amount of agent present is provided by the number of bars which appear on the LCD screen (0-8 bars). One limitation of the CAM is that certain organic solvents can produce a false positive response, so the operator needs to be trained to determine what may be in the area that could cause a false response.

HazMat Certification Study Guide10 SAW MINICAD® Cost: $ Capability: Simultaneous detection of G- and H- agents in vapor form using surface acoustic wave Limitations: Not fully tested Not as sensitive as ICAM Best Use: Initial warning

HazMat Certification Study Guide11 SAW MINICAD The SAW-MINICAD is capable of detecting concentrations of G and H-agents in vapor form. It is not as sensitive as the CAM/ ICAM. The device uses surface acoustic wave technology for detection. It weighs slightly over a pound. It has not been fully tested nor has it been approved for use by the U.S. Armed Forces.

HazMat Certification Study Guide12 Dräger Detection Tubes Cost: $300.00/Kit (and $7.00/tube) Capability: Detection and identification of choking, nerve, blood, and blister agents; sampling of unknown agents Limitations: Hand manipulation required 8 specific tubes required Best Use: Industrial chemicals

HazMat Certification Study Guide13 Dräger Detection Tubes The Dräger Kits contain a series of tubes which can be used to detect the chemical warfare agents as well as toxic industrial chemicals. In fact, for the commercial chemicals (phosgene, chlorine, and the blood agents (hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen chloride)), the Dräger tubes are the most sensitive, detecting concentrations below the TWA level (with the exception of Lewisite).

HazMat Certification Study Guide14 Dräger tubes used for potential sampling include those specific for thioethers (mustard), phosphoric acid esters (nerve agents), organic arsenic (Lewisite), organic alkaline nitrogen compounds (HN, GA), specific cyanide tubes (blood agents), specific cyanogen chloride tubes (CK), specific chlorine tubes (Cl), or specific phosgene tubes (CG).

HazMat Certification Study Guide15 MINICAMS® (Gas Chromatograph) Cost:$24, / w/FPD $30, / w/halogen + $1, / multi-agent software Capability: Automatic quantitative identification of chemical agents 3 minute response below TWA/AEL levels Limitations: Not truly a field instrument Must be calibrated daily One agent at a time Requires trained operators Best Use: To determine when safe to decrease protection or reoccupy facility

HazMat Certification Study Guide16 GAS CHROMATOGRAPHS The last type of instruments for chemical detection and identification are the gas chromatographs. These are laboratory-type instruments which require skilled lab technicians to operate and interpret results. A few have been hardened for use in vans and in the field.

HazMat Certification Study Guide17 Spectratrak® GC-MS Cost: $54, / GC/MS Capability: Provides on-site laboratory quality chemical analysis of vapor, soil, or liquid samples Below TWA/PEL levels Limitation: Training of personnel is required; a power source is required Best Use: Agent identification Determine concentration