Emergency Response to Terrorism TC: Hazardous Materials

1. Emergency Response to TerrorismTC: Hazardous Materials Unit 3: Chemical and Physical Properties

2. Terminal Objective • Given chemical and physical properties of an unknown material, the students will be able to estimate risk and to determine appropriate response actions and precautions.

3. Enabling Objectives The students will: • Identify chemical and physical properties of terrorist agents that relate directly to providing a safe and effective response. • Identify the mechanisms of harm for Biological, Nuclear, Incendiary, Chemical, and Explosive (B-NICE) agents. • Identify various B-NICE dissemination methods and devices.

4. Introduction • Chemistry has existed for thousands of years. • Properties have not changed. • Our perception of chemical hazards may need to change. • Base response on chemical and physical properties, not hysteria.

5. States of matter Concentration Melting and freezing point Vapor density Molecular weight Vapor pressure Volatility Persistency Properties Overview

6. States of Matter • Biological agents--solids or liquids • Chemical and blister agents--solids, liquids, or gases • Blood and choking agents--gases

7. Concentration • Low probability of finding pure agent • Nearly impossible to produce pure agent • Two primary reasons--ability and safety • Ability--must be produced following exact procedures, pure compounds needed for quality agents • Safety--dangerous to produce pure substances, packaging and transportation dangerous

8. Melting & Freezing Point

9. Vapor Density • Relationship of materials to air (air=1) • Materials with vapor density <1 will rise in air. • Materials with vapor density >1 will stay at ground level. • Except hydrogen cyanide, all warfare agents are >1. • Those with higher numbers have difficulty escaping their containers.

10. Molecular Weight • Based on chemical formula and structure • Can be used to determine vapor density • Partially determines how much material goes into the air (volatility)

11. Vapor Pressure: Definition • Pressure exerted on a container from the vapor coming from a liquid • Pressure exerted by surface of liquid against atmospheric pressure • Ability of a material to produce vapor that can cause severe human problems • Respiratory • Skin

12. Vapor Pressure: Importance • One of the most important physical properties and a key to survival • High vapor pressure may require high levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) • Low vapor pressure may dictate lesser levels • Materials with little or no vapor pressure present only a contact risk

13. Vapor Pressure: Measurements • Usually expressed in one of three terms • Pounds per square inch (14.7 psi) • Atmospheres (1 atm) • Millimeters of mercury (760mm/Hg)

14. Volatility • Ability to evaporate • Sometimes used in conjunction with vapor pressure • Materials with high vapor pressure = volatile • Amount of material going into the air • Helps us understand the agent’s ability to do harm

15. Persistency • Military term • Combination of vapor pressure and volatility • Persistent agents remain in place for a period of time when released • Nonpersistent agents disperse • Generally described in days (not hours) • Most vapor pressure or volatilities are measured at 20°C (70°F)

16. Vapor Risk • Chemicals begin to evaporate rapidly at 40mm/Hg • H2O evaporates in a few days; gasoline in a couple of hours; ether in a few minutes • In an open cup at standard temperature and pressure (STP) (68°F)

17. Vapor Pressure / Volatility

18. Vapor Pressure / Volatility (cont'd)

19. Characteristics of Terrorism Agents: Biological • Some similarities to chemical agents • Onset of symptoms is the big difference • Route of entry • Sensitive to environmental conditions • Toxicity comparisons • Invisible to our senses, difficult to detect

20. Manufacture of Bio Agents • Obtained from nature • Detection probably will occur after the fact • Someone with little training can, with a small amount of a culture, grow larger quantities • Relatively easy to produce • Only “relatively” • Hard to produce high grade • Must be able to survive the distribution

21. Biological Agents--Weapon • Delayed effects are to the terrorist’s advantage • Variety of dispersal methods possible • Aerosol dispersion via agricultural sprayer • Contaminated water, food, or medicine • Bombings with little damage may signal biological agent dissemination • Containers from labs or bio supply are clues

22. Biological Terrorism Agents • Biological and toxins • Greatest risk to our community. • Toxins--second most popular. • Ricin is easy to produce without suspicion. • Biological agents are difficult to detect, so rely on labs.

23. Biological Terrorism Agents(cont'd) • Bacteria • Single-celled microscopic organisms • Direct pathogenic effects • Dangerous to humans • Anthrax • Plague • Tularemia and cholera

24. Biological Terrorism Agents(cont'd) • Viruses • Submicroscopic agent • Contain protein coat of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) • Dangerous and sometimes deadly • Viral hemorrhagic fevers • Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) • Smallpox • In most cases, require a host to reproduce

25. Biological Terrorism Agents(cont'd) • Toxins • Ricin--derived from beans of the castor plant • Abrin--similar to ricin, but 75 times more powerful • Botulinum toxin--made from bacterial byproducts; highly potent • 3,000 times more powerful than ricin • 100 times more powerful than sarin

26. Biological Terrorism Agents(cont'd) • Mycotoxins • Dangerous biological toxins • Can be introduced by almost any route including absorption through the skin • Effects similar to those of blister agents except symptom onset is faster, usually minutes • Not sensitive to heat or ultraviolet light and can be used effectively as a weapon

27. Nuclear Agents Overview • Radioactive materials • Three types of radiation injuries • External irradiation • Contamination • Internal (target organs) • Ionizing radiation: alpha, beta, gamma

28. Comparing Radiation Particle Types • Alpha particles • Heaviest • Least penetrating • Hazardous if inhaled, swallowed, or entered via wound • Beta particles • High speed • Moderate penetrating power • Travel 10 times farther than alpha • Penetrate into skin and cause severe skin burns • Require fairly thin shielding for protection

29. Comparing Radiation Particle Types (cont'd) • Gamma particles • Most penetrating type • Can travel miles in the air • Can penetrate many centimeters into tissue, damaging deep organs • Also called “penetrating” radiation • Both internal and external hazard

30. Measuring Radioactivity:Units of Quantity • Units of quantity • Curie (Ci)--old term but still common; measures amount of radiation emitted • System International (SI)--new terminology that uses meter, gram, liter • SI unit is becquerel (Bq) • 1 Ci = 37 gigabecquerel (GBq) • GBq = 1.000.000.000 Bq

31. Measuring Radioactivity:Units of Dose • Dose--amount of radiation absorbed • Absorbed dose--energy imparted to matter by ionizing radiation per unit of mass of irradiated material • Radiation absorbed dose (rad)--measure of energy deposited in matter by ionizing radiation • Indicator of immediate damage • SI unit is the Gray (Gy) • 100 rad = 1 Gy • 1 rad = 0.01 Gy

32. Measuring Radioactivity:Units of Exposure • Roentgen (R)--how much charge due to ionization is produced in a volume of air • Roentgen equivalent man (rem)--damage caused by radiation passing through living tissue • The SI unit is the sievert (Sv) • 1 rem = 0.01 Sv • 100 rem = 1 Sv

33. Elements of Protection • Time • Distance • Shielding

34. ALARA • As Low As Reasonably Achievable • Take all reasonable steps to minimize exposure. • Should guide all activities involving radiation.

35. Responder Exposure Limits • Recommended limits established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Not considered safe limits because they still present some risk • Recommended: Maximum 25 rem total dose for any single life-threatening emergency

36. Emergency Response Exposure Limits

37. Common Radiation Exposures

38. Common Radiation Exposures (cont'd)

39. Incendiaries • General info • Used for centuries • Flexible • IRA used for years and use is on the rise here • Used in 20 to 25 percent of all U.S. bombing incidents • Fewer than 5 percent of actual or attempted bombings have been preceded by a threat

40. Incendiary Device Components • Ignition source • Combustible filler • Housing

41. Materials Used for Incendiary Devices • Roadway flares • Gasoline and motor oil • Light bulbs • Common electrical components and devices • Matches • Household chemicals • Fireworks • Propane and butane cylinders • Plastic pipes, bottles, and cans

42. Chemical WeaponsCategories Overview • Nerve agents • Blister agents • Blood agents • Choking agents • Riot control agents (irritants) • Industrial chemicals

43. Chemical Weapons:General Information • Liquids when containerized • Disseminated as aerosols or gases • Effects from irritation to death • Onset of symptoms: seconds to several hours • Influenced by weather • Can be protected against, treated and decontaminated

44. Military Designations • Military has its own designations even for chemicals in common industrial use. • Often named after the inventor. • Military detection equipment uses military designations.

45. Military Designations (cont'd)

46. Military Designations (cont'd)

47. Military Designations (cont'd)

48. Military Designations (cont'd)

49. Toxicity Terms • Standard exposure values provided for chemical agents • Military may add some terms • Toxicity derived from extensive military studies • Standard exposures and military use: Dose= Concentration X Time

50. Lethal Dosage • LD50--Lethal Dose • LC50--Lethal Concentration • LCt50--Time expression, in minutes • LDt50--Lethal dose per time • ICt50--Incapacitating concentration • AEL--Airborne Exposure Limit