Research Highlights

Technology Performance Summary: Draeger Civil Defense Kit for Toxic Industrial Chemicals

All Hazards Receipt Facilities (AHRFs) were developed to prescreen for chemical, radiochemical, and explosive hazards in samples collected during suspected terrorist attacks. The technologies used in AHRFs are intended to screen samples prior to a full analysis, helping protect responders, laboratory workers, and others from potential injury.

Evaluations of these technologies are summarized in the technology evaluation report, Testing of Screening Technologies for Detection of Toxic Industrial Chemicals in All Hazards Receipt Facilities. The toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) included in the report were chosen because they might be used during, or develop as a by-product from, a terrorist attack.

The screening technologies are intended:

• To be rapid and qualitative
• To be simple to use and of relatively low cost
• To indicate if samples contain hazardous chemicals of concern.

Not all of the technologies evaluated were deemed suitable for the AHRF, although they might be useful for responders on the scene.

Technology Evaluated: Draeger Civil Defense Kit

Sample Types Evaluated for Indication of: Hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride, phosgene, arsine, and chlorine vapor

Conclusions:
The Draeger Civil Defense Kit:

• Reliably detected hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride, phosgene, and chlorine vapors (i.e., 100% accuracy for hydrogen cyanide, phosgene, and chlorine; 92% accuracy for cyanogen chloride).
• Can test for up to five compounds at a time.
• Exhibited easily distinguishable color changes within several seconds.
• Uses a relatively simple procedure of breaking tubes, inserting into manifold, and drawing sample.

Technology Description and Requirements: This technology uses a hand pump to draw air through five different color-indicating tubes simultaneously, with each tube providing an indication of one vapor phase TIC. All five tubes must be in place in the five-port sampling holder for proper sampling. Fifty compressions of the hand pump provide the required sample volumes to all five tubes, and may take a couple minutes to complete.

Testing Methodology and Results: Testing was conducted on one TIC at a time. The tested gases were generated by diluting a commercially obtained compressed gas standard. To evaluate the detector, a flow of clean air passed through a clean air plenum, and an equal flow of air containing the tested gas passed through another plenum: the challenge plenum. The instrument was connected to a 4-way valve, through which clean air or the tested gas flowed before being vented into a chemical laboratory hood. The technology was first exposed to the clean air flow. After this, the 4-way valve was switched to the challenge plenum to deliver the TIC gas. The sequence of exposure to clean air, followed by exposure to the TIC gas, was carried out three times in succession. This sequence was followed for each TIC and condition identified in Table 1. For this evaluation, a hydrocarbon mixture interferent was added to the blank, or TIC gas, at a ratio of 1:100 interferent mix to air flow.

Table 1: Summary of Draeger Civil Defense Kit Test Results

^aA hydrocarbon mixture was used as the interferent.
^bTemperature and relative humidity conditions for vapor tests were: Base = 20 °C and 50% relative humidity, Low = 10 °C  and 20% relative humidity, and High = 30 °C and 80% relative humidity.
^cAEGL = Acute Exposure Guide Level and TEEL = Temporary Emergency Exposure Limit.
^dProper response in 2 of 3 tests at base temperature and relative humidity conditions.

Contact: Eric Koglin

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