Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Unit 5.5 MISSION SPECIFIC: Air Monitoring and Sampling

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit Objectives q Identify IDLH conditions present at a hazardous materials emergency q Use air monitoring data to select proper personal protective equipment q Properly select, start, operate and interpret air monitoring instruments provided by the AHJ

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit Instrument Characteristics q Calibration q Start up procedures q Sensitivity q Accuracy q Selectivity q Response time q Lag time q Inherent safety

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit Air Monitoring Requirements q Corrosivity (pH) Necessary to protect instruments q Radiological q Flammability q Oxygen q Toxicity

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit Devices q pH q Litmus paper q Wetted q Red/Blue q Meters q Not feasible in emergency response

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit Radiation Detection q Types q Alpha q Beta q Gamma q Units of measure 1 REM = 1,000 Mrem 1 mREM = 1000  REM

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit Radiation Detection q Detector Types Ion chambers Geiger Muller Scintillation Semiconductor q Gamma spectroscopy Identification of isotopes

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit CGI q Wheatstone bridge or catalytic bead q Very accurate to calibrating gas q Readings expressed in % of LEL q Affected by  Temp, humidity, elevation q Does not identify the gas q Response factors needed

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit Oxygen q Technology  Electrochemical q Very accurate q Reading  % of oxygen in air q Shelf life of about 1 to 2 years q Affected by temp q Poisoned by acids (CO2)

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit Toxicity q Technology  PID or Electrochemical q Electrochemical Chemical specific Reading  PPM or % by vol. Most accurate to concentration of calibration gas Poisoned by acids or bases Affected by  Interferences, temp

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit Toxicity q Photo ionization detector Technology  UV bulb to ionize material Not chemical specific Readings  PPM Accurate to calibration gas Affected by  Humidity, high concentrations Does not identify the gas Response factors needed

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit WMD Detection q M8 paper Colorimetric paper Detects nerve agents, blister agents Reading  Color change indicates agent present Easy to use Liquids only q M256A1 kit Technology  Wet chemistry Detects  Nerve agents, blister agents, cyanides Reading  Color change indicates agent present Takes about 30 min to detect vapors Difficult to use in gear Interpretation required by user

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit WMD Detection q APD2000 Technology  IMS Detects  Nerve agents, blister agents, pepper and tear gas, gamma radiation Reading  Indicates which agent present Very sensitive PPB False positives

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit WMD Detection q Haz Mat CAD Technology  Surface Acoustical Wave (SAW) and electrochemical Detects  Nerve agents, blister agents, cyanides and TICs Readings  Indicates which agent type present Very sensitive PPB False positives

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit Biological Detection q Protein screen q Indicates presence of protein q Some screens also indicate extremes in pH q Immunoassay Some are very accurate Possible false positives or negatives Results in minutes only a screening tool!!!! q PCR

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Program Unit Summary q Air monitoring enables decision making q Required detection activities q Flammability, oxygen, radiological, toxicity q Instrument chacateristics q Instrument calibration q Calibration, field calibration checks, bumping q Relative response

Florida Operations Level Hazardous Materials Training Activity 5.5 Start-up and Use of Organization’s Detection Equipment