STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the time to decontaminate an area of skin exposed to an oil-based agent using a water-only decontamination protocol. METHODS: A fluorescent mock chemical/biological agent was created. Each of 20 subjects had his/her forearm sprayed with the agent. Each subject placed his/her arm under a decontamination shower, which provided water at a pressure of 60-70 psi and 35 degrees C. After 30 sec a black light was used by three evaluators to determine whether the agent was removed. The process of 30 sec decontamination and re-evaluation was repeated for a total of 5 min. The primary endpoint was proportion decontaminated over time. RESULTS: After 90 sec, 100% of subjects were decontaminated. CONCLUSION: Whereas the data suggest the possibility of rapid water-only decontamination, the applicability of this data in current form is doubtful, but provides a model as a basis for future study.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the time to decontaminate an area of skin exposed to an oil-based agent using a water-only decontamination protocol. METHODS: A fluorescent mock chemical/biological agent was created. Each of 20 subjects had his/her forearm sprayed with the agent. Each subject placed his/her arm under a decontamination shower, which provided water at a pressure of 60-70 psi and 35 degrees C. After 30 sec a black light was used by three evaluators to determine whether the agent was removed. The process of 30 sec decontamination and re-evaluation was repeated for a total of 5 min. The primary endpoint was proportion decontaminated over time. RESULTS: After 90 sec, 100% of subjects were decontaminated. CONCLUSION: Whereas the data suggest the possibility of rapid water-only decontamination, the applicability of this data in current form is doubtful, but provides a model as a basis for future study.
Authors: Adam D Leary; Michael D Schwartz; Mark A Kirk; Joselito S Ignacio; Elaine B Wencil; Susan M Cibulsky Journal: Disaster Med Public Health Prep Date: 2014-05-27 Impact factor: 5.556
Authors: Samuel Collins; Thomas James; Holly Carter; Charles Symons; Felicity Southworth; Kerry Foxall; Tim Marczylo; Richard Amlôt Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-17 Impact factor: 3.390