DoD Module 7

1. DoD Module 7 Chemical Agent Detection Equipment

2. HazMat Certification Study Guide

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 Guide

4. 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 Guide

5. 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 Guide

6. 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 Guide

7. 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 Guide

8. 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 Guide

9. 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 Guide

10. SAW MINICAD® • Cost: $5495.00 • 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 Guide

11. 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 Guide

12. 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 Guide

13. 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 Guide

14. 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 Guide

15. MINICAMS® (Gas Chromatograph) • Cost: $24,873.00 / w/FPD • $30,748.00 / w/halogen • + $1,500.00 / 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 Guide

16. 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 Guide

17. Spectratrak® GC-MS • Cost: $54,000.00 / 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 HazMat Certification Study Guide