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Blister
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The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) requires employers to comply with hazard-specific safety and
health standards. In addition, pursuant to Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, employers must provide their employees with a workplace
free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Emergency Preparedness Guides do not and cannot enlarge or
diminish an employer's obligations under the OSH Act.
Emergency Preparedness Guides are based on presently available information, as well as current occupational safety and health provisions
and standards. The procedures and practices discussed in Emergency Preparedness Guides may need to be modified when additional, relevant
information becomes available or when OSH Act standards are promulgated or modified. |
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Because of recent terrorist events many workers have expressed concern
about the possibility of a terrorist attack involving blister
agents. Blister agents have been used as chemical warfare agents,
in World War I (1914-1918) and the Iran-Iraq war (1984-1988). The
following frequently asked questions will help workers understand
what blister agents are and how they may affect their health
and safety.
General Information
What are blister agents?
Blister agents or "vesicants" are chemicals which have severely
irritating properties that produce fluid filled pockets on
the skin and damage to the eyes, lungs and other mucous membranes.
Symptoms of exposure may be immediate or delayed until
several hours after exposure.
What are the different forms of blister agents and their properties?
The three major categories of blister agents are: sulfur mustard (H,HD,HT), nitrogen mustard (HN-1, HN-2,
HN-3), Lewisite (L), and halogenated oximes (CX).
Sulfur mustards are clear to yellow or brown oily liquids with a slight garlic or mustard
odor. Although volatility is low, vapors can reach hazardous levels during
warm weather. Nitrogen mustards are colorless to yellow, oily liquids with
variable odors. Lewisite contains arsenic and is a dark oily liquid with a
slight odor of geraniums. Phosgene oxime, one of the most common
halogenated oximes, is a colorless solid or liquid, with
an intense irritating odor.
Why are we concerned about blister agents as a terrorist’s
weapon?
There are large stockpiles of blister agents which, if obtained by terrorists,
could be released using bombs, explosives, spray tanks, or rockets.
How long will blister agents
persist in the environment?
When exposed to air, blister agents will break down but this may take several
days. Nitrogen mustards and Lewisite should
break down quickly in soil and water. Sulfur mustards, however,
may persist for several days in soil and water. When exposed to air, phosgene oxime is broken down slowly, but
in water or soil it is broken down more quickly. See the following table for
more information:
Types and Characteristics Chemical Agents
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PERSISTENCE |
PERSISTENCE |
|
ENTRANCE |
|
TYPE OF AGENT |
SYMBOL |
SUMMER |
WINTER |
RATE OF ACTION |
VAPOR/AEROSOL |
LIQUID |
BLISTER |
HD, HN |
3 days-1 wk |
Weeks |
Slow |
Eyes, Skin, Lungs |
Eyes, Skin |
|
L, HL |
1-3 days |
Weeks |
Quick |
Eyes, Skin, Lungs |
Eyes, Skin, Mouth |
|
CX |
Days |
Days |
Very Quick |
Eyes, Lungs, Skin |
Eyes, Skin, Mouth |
*ARMY
FIELD MANUAL NO. 8-10-7. Health Service Support in a Nuclear,
Biological, and Chemical Environment.
Health Effects
How do blister agents affect people?
Blister agents burn and blister the skin or any other part of the body they
contact. Blister agents (whether as a gas, aerosol, or liquid) enter the
body primarily through inhalation and dermal contact. They may act on the
eyes, mucous membranes, lungs, and skin. Mustard agent symptoms are delayed
- with little or no pain at the time of exposure. In some cases, signs of
injury may not appear for several hours or days depending on the concentration.
Mustard agents are also suspected carcinogens. Lewisite and phosgene oxime
cause immediate, severe pain.
For additional information, see
Controls
How do I protect myself from blister agents?
If you are exposed to a blister agent attack, get away from the impacted area
quickly without passing through the contaminated area, if possible. It may
be necessary to “shelter-in-place” if you can’t get out
of a building or if the nearest place with clean air is indoors.
If available, a good way to protect yourself from a from blister agents
is to wear appropriate chemical protective clothing and respiratory protection.
However, protective equipment does not always work against
blister agents. The effectiveness is determined by the materials of construction,
the type and level of exposure, and duration of exposure.
What does it mean to "shelter in place"?
"Shelter in place" means to go indoors, close up the building, and
wait for the danger to pass. If you are advised to shelter in place, close all doors and windows; turn off fans, air conditioners, and forced-air
heating units that bring in fresh air from the outside; only re-circulate air
that is already in the building; move to an inner room or basement; and keep your
radio turned to the emergency response network or local news to find out what
else you need to do.
For additional information see the Shelter-in-Place
Information Center.
What should I do if I have been exposed to a blister
agent?
If you have been exposed to a blister agent, remove all clothing immediately
and wash with copious amounts of soap and water. Seek emergency medical attention.
Is there any treatment for persons exposed to blister agents?
The military has many publications covering the treatment of personnel who have been
exposed to blister agents. Examples are the US Army Medical Research
Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD) Medical Management of Chemical
Casualties Handbook, Chapter 4, Vesicants and Field
Manual 8-285, Treatment of Chemical Agent Casualties and Conventional Military
Chemical Injuries, Chapter 4, Blister Agents (Vesicants).
Has the federal government made recommendations to protect
worker health?
OSHA has not set occupational exposure levels for exposure to blister agents.
However, other government departments and agencies have published existing and
proposed standards.
- Summary of Chemical Agent Air Exposure Values Table 1. (2004, August 3), 87 KB PDF, 2 pages.
- Summary of Multi-Media Chemical Agent Toxicity and Exposure Values Table 2. (2004, August 3), 206 KB PDF, 2 pages.
- Lewisite. CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response (2003,
December 22). This page includes Fact Sheets, an Emergency Response Card, Medical Management Guidelines, and FAQ's about
Lewisite.
- Sulfur Mustard.
CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response (2003, December 22). This page includes Fact Sheets, an Emergency Response Card, Medical Management Guidelines, and FAQ's about
Sulfur Mustard.
- Nitrogen Mustard. CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response (2003,
December 22). This
page includes Fact Sheets, Emergency Response Card, Medical Management Guidelines, and FAQ's about
Nitrogen Mustard.
- Phosgene Oxime. CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response (2003,
December 22). This page includes Fact Sheets, Emergency Response Card, Medical Management Guidelines, and FAQ's about
Phosgene Oxime.
First Responders
How should first responders prepare for
a release of blister agents?
First responders should consider the possible impact of a release and potential
exposure to blister
agents and address this in their health and safety plan(HASP). The safety
and health plan should include guidelines such as: monitoring, detection, awareness
training, personal protective equipment, decontamination, and medical surveillance
of acutely exposed workers.
What equipment can first responders use to detect if
a blister agent is present?
The variety of devices are available to detect blister agent vapor and liquid.
The most portable of the vapor detectors are the M256A1 card or ticket and the
Chemical Agent Monitor (CAM). The simplest liquid detectors are the M8 and M9
papers. Direct reading instruments that are available include specialized gas chromatographs (Minicams) and ion mobility
spectrometers such as the APD 2000. Since some of these detectors cannot
adequately detect the agents at safe airborne levels, users should be trained in
regards to the use and limitations of the detectors. Listed below is a
table of military detection and monitoring equipment:
Military Detection and Monitoring Equipment
Equipment |
Agent |
Sensitivity |
Time |
Cost |
Operations/
Maintenance/
Limits |
Notes |
M-8 Paper |
Nerve-G
Nerve-VX
Mustard-H Liquids only |
100-µ drops
100-µ drops
100-µ drops |
<=30 sec |
$1 per book of 25 sheets |
Disposable/
hand-held
Dry, undamaged paper has indefinite shelf life |
Chemical agent detector paper; 25 sheets/book and 50 booklets/box; potential for false positives. |
M-9 Paper |
Nerve-G
Nerve-VX
Mustard-H Liquids only |
100-µ drops
100-µ drops
100-µ drops |
<=20 sec |
$5 per 10-m roll |
Disposable/
hand-held 3-year shelf life
Carcinogen |
Adhesive-backed dispenser roll or books. |
M-18A2
Detector Kit |
Nerve-GB
Nerve-VX
Mustard-H, HN, HD, HT
Lewisite-L, ED, MD
Phosgene-CG
Blood-AC Liquid,
vapor, aerosol |
0.1 mg/m3
0.1 mg/m3
0.5 mg/m3
10.0 mg/m3
12.0 mg/m3
8.0 mg/m3 |
23 min |
$360 |
Disposable tubes Hand-held |
25 tests per kit; Detector tubes, detector tickets, and M-8. |
M-256A1
Detector Kit |
Nerve-G and VX
Mustard-HD
Lewisite-L
Phosgene oxime-CX
Blood-AC, CK Vapor or liquid |
0.005 mg/m3
0.02 mg/m3
2.0 mg/m3
9.0 mg/m3
3.0 mg/m3
8.0 mg/m3 |
15 min Series is longer AC--25 min |
$140 |
Disposable/
Hand-held 5-year shelf life |
Each kit contains 12 disposable plastic sampler-detectors and M-8 paper. |
M-272
Water Test Kit |
Nerve-G and VX
Mustard-HD
Lewisite
Hydrogen cyanide |
0.02 mg/l
2.0 mg/l
2.0 mg/l
20.0 mg/l |
7 min
7 min
7 min
6 min |
$189 |
Portable/
lightweight 5-year shelf life USN, USMC |
Used to test raw or treated water; Type I and II detector tubes, eel enzyme detector tickets; Kit conducts 25 tests for each agent. |
CAM Chemical Agent Monitor |
Nerve-GA, GB, VX
Blister-HD and HN Vapor only |
0.03 mg/m3
0.1 mg/m3 |
30 sec
<=1 min |
$7,500 |
Hand-held/portable battery operated 68 hours continuous use. Maintenance required. |
Radioactive source. False alarms to perfume, exhaust paint, additives to diesel fuel. |
ICAM
Improved Chemical Agent Detector |
Nerve-G and V
Mustard-HD |
0.03 mg/m3
0.1 mg/m3 |
10 sec
10 sec |
$7,500 |
4.5 pounds
Minimal training |
Alarm only;
False positives common. |
ICAM-APD
Improved Chemical Agent Detector--Advanced Point Detector |
Nerve-G
Nerve-V
Mustard-H
Lewisite-L |
0.1 mg/m3
0.04 mg/m3
2.0 mg/m3
2.0 mg/m3 |
30 sec
30 sec
10 sec
10 sec |
$15,000 |
12 pounds including batteries
Low maintenance
Minimal training |
Audible and visual alarm. |
ICAD
Miniature Chemical Agent Detector |
Nerve-G
Mustard-HD
Lewisite-C
Cyanide-AC, CK
Phosgene-CG |
0.20.5 mg/m3
10 mg/m3
10 mg/m3
50 mg/m3
25 mg/m3 |
2 min
(30 sec for high levels)
2 min
15 sec |
$2,800 |
8 oz pocket-mounted 4 months service
No maintenance
Minimal training |
Audible and visual alarm;
Marines;
No radioactivity. |
M-90 D1A
Chemical Agent Detector |
Nerve-G, V
Mustard
Lewisite
Blood Vapor only |
0.02 mg/m3
0.2 mg/m3
0.8 mg/m3
N/A |
10 sec
10 sec
80 sec |
$16,000 |
15 lb. with battery
Radioactive source exempt from licensing. Minimal training |
Ion mobility spectroscopy and metal conductivity technology can monitor up to 30 chemicals in parallel. Alarm only. |
M-8A1 Alarm
Automatic Chemical Agent Alarm |
Nerve-GA, GB, GD
Nerve-VX
Mustard-HD Vapor only |
0.2 mg/m3
0.4 mg/m3
10 mg/m3 |
<=2 min
<=2 min
<=2 min |
$2,555 |
Vehicle battery operated
Maintenance required |
Radioactive source (license required);
Automatic unattended operation;
Remote placement. |
MM-1
Mobile Mass Spectrometry Gas Chromatograph |
2030 CWA Vapor |
<10 mg/m2 of surface area |
<=45 sec |
$300,000 military
$100,000 civilian |
Heater volatizes surface contaminants. |
German "Fuchs" (FOX Recon System/Vehicle) |
RSCAAL M-21 |
Nerve-G
Mustard-H
Lewisite-L Vapor |
90 mg/m3
2,300 mg/m3
500 mg/m3 |
|
$110,000 |
Line-of-sight dependent 10 year shelf life 2-person portable tripod |
Passive infrared energy detector 3 miles; Visual/
audible warning from 400 meters |
SAW
Mini-CAD |
Nerve-GB
Nerve-GD
Mustard-HD Vapor |
1.0 mg/m3
0.12 mg/m3
0.6 mg/m3 |
1 min
1 min
1 min
1 pound
No calibration |
$5,500 |
Minimal training
Field use |
Alarm only;
False alarms from gasoline vapor, glass cleaner. |
ACADA
(XM22) |
Nerve-G
Mustard-HD
Lewisite Vapor |
0.1 mg/m3
2 mg/m3
-- |
30 sec
30 sec
-- |
$8,000 |
Vehicle mounted, battery powered
Radioactive source (license required) Minimal training |
Audible alarm;
Bargraph display--low, high, very high. |
Field Mini-CAMs |
Nerve-G, V
Mustard-H
Lewisite-L |
<0.0001 mg/m3
<0.003 mg/m3
<0.003 mg/m3 |
<5 min
<5 min
<5 min |
$34,000 |
Designed for field industry monitoring (10 lb.) 8 hours training 24 hour/7 day operations |
Plug-in modules increase versatility;
Threshold lower than AEL. |
Viking
Spectratrak GC/MS |
Nerve-G, V
Mustard-HD
Many others |
<0.0001 mg/m3
<0.003 mg/m3 |
<10 min
<10 min |
$100,000 |
Field use, but 85 pounds
Needs 120v AC, helium 40 hours training |
Lab quality analysis;
Library of 62,000 chemical signatures. |
HP 6890 GC
with flame photometric detector |
Nerve-G, V
Mustard-HD
Many others |
<0.0001 mg/m3
<0.0006 mg/m3 |
<10 min
<10 min |
$50,000 |
Not designed for field use
Gas, air, 220v AC 40 hours training |
State-of-
the-art gas chromatograph;
Used by CWC treaty lab. |
Reference from National Research Council’s Chemical and Biological
Terrorism: Research and Development to Improve Civilian Medical Response.
What personal protective equipment (PPE) should first responders use?
When an active release is occurring, or the release has stopped but there
is no information about the duration of the release or the airborne concentration
of nerve agents, don level A protection. The requirement of OSHA’s
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard (29 CFR
1910.120(q))
provides additional information for responding to hazardous substance releases,
including blister agents.
For additional information see CBRN Personal Protective Equipment Selection Matrix for Emergency Responders -
Blister Agents.
Healthcare Workers
How should healthcare workers prepare to respond to a blister agent release?
Healthcare facilities should have a health and safety plan in place that addresses
the possibility of receiving patients exposed to blister agents from a terrorism
event. The document "OSHA Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers of Victims" contains practical information for developing an emergency management plan and includes victim decontamination, personal protective equipment, and employee training.
How do I decontaminate a patient?
Healthcare professionals should don appropriate gloves and respiratory protection and
then remove contaminated clothing from victim and thoroughly wash exposed
area with soap and water. Healthcare professionals should also wash hands
after removing any protective gloves and any other potentially exposed body
surfaces.
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Last Updated: 01 March 2005
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