CBRNe December 2019

CBRNe December 2019 cover and spine v2:CBRNe December 2019 cover and spine v2 02/01/2020 09:31 Page 1
cbrne
Co e p
se
nv ag
CB gen 37
CBRNe WORLD
er es
RN ce to
world
e 20 39
December 2019
20
www.cbrneworld.com
VOLUME 14 ISSUE 6
DECEMBER 2019
$15
RRP
Impending mortality Unconventional Calculated risk

Prof. Piot and the first Ebola Novichoks and the CWC Improving military PPE
CBRNe December 2019 vChanges v2:CBRNe December 2019 vChanges v2 02/01/2020 13:24 Page 1
Leader
I t’s that annual round up time of the year again, and in
fairness it’s been a quieter 12 months than we have
seen in a while.
On the chemical side we have seen Novichoks enter
the chemical weapons convention as a scheduled
death toll would be much higher, but the epidemic is not
over and the question would seem to be whether it will
ever be – this could be the new normal. The WHO has
managed to get on with the job without a media circus
and it is curious how 2014’s biological Armageddon
chemical. We have an article on this from Marc Michael became 2019’s non-story.
Blum later in the magazine, but as always the question is 2019’s media pathogen du jour was plague, which,
what does this mean? Ostensibly it is good news, a closing when it appeared in Mongolia and China, sparked
of a loophole, but arguably Novichoks, like all toxic excitement in May and November. Despite the official
chemicals that can do us harm, were always covered by death toll not reaching double figures it was enough to
the spirit of the CWC whether they were in the schedule spark retrospectives on the Black Death and a brief feeling
or not. Regardless they are there now, and this is going to of doom laden nostalgia. Following closely behind Yersinia
have a series of second and third order effects. It is not Pestis, in terms of media interest, were tick borne
just the Russians that are going to have to own up to their diseases. These were inspired by Kris Newby’s book,
stocks of Novichoks but any nation that has produced Bitten, that opined that military research into Lyme
them. Like they do for all scheduled chemicals provide disease resulted in ticks being accidentally released from
information on the sites that have had anything to do with Plum Island research center resulting in an amendment
their creation, research and storage. to the 2020 U.S. defense budget requesting clarification
Some of these are going to be well known to the whether this was the case. Lyme disease impacts enough
Organisation, but for countries that have engaged people throughout the world that it was enough to
clandestine facilities, that legitimate organisations know generate a little media firestorm despite experts
nothing about, there will have to be some ‘work suggesting that a little sober reflection might be needed.
arounds.’ Let’s be clear, A234 was not a surprise to Nato Finally, nuclear ticked on with the seeds that were
nations, there had been decades of quiet research going sown early in the Trump administration taking root in
on to ascertain protection and detection levels. This Iran and North Korea. The US pulling out of the JCPOA
necessitates the ability to synthesise the small amounts had clearly set them on a collision course with Iranian
of agent needed to do that work. This means a nuclear ambitions and the rhetoric from Tehran has been
production facility or methodology that the regular CWC predictable. Less expected have been the conventional
inspectors were previously unaware of. This must involve attacks that Iran has also engaged in that makes a serious
a certain amount of chagrin as countries admit exactly regional conflict in the Middle East more likely than it has
what they have been doing and been engaged in for a been for the past 20 years.
significant period of time. North Korea and the US still has the outward
Just for full clarity, I am not suggesting that there is appearance of a playground spat. The maturity of the
going to need to be a demilitarisation programme on the dialogue has returned to 2017 levels, with Trump
scale of the nerve and mustard ones, I’d be surprised if the repeating his ‘rocketman’ jibes and Kim Jong Un throwing
amount of agent involved even got to the litres stage… in 19th Century vernacular around like a third rate Charles
Nato countries at least. Dicken’s villain. Meanwhile the envoy’s and ambassadors
Equally there will be a lot of scientists that have shake their heads at any mention of progress, despite two
conducted research on these chemicals that they have not summits. A ‘Christmas Present’ promised by Kim failed to
been allowed to publish. This will be a real test of the turn up, but that isn’t to say that it won’t, and experts are
declassification of Novichoks. We have allowed publication divided on exactly what this could be.
of research papers on other scheduled chemicals, but my 2019 felt like the difficult second act of a three-act
guess is that old habits will die hard and we will see some play. We’ve had all the build-up, we know that there’ll be a
of the positive research, the effects of oximes on Novichok crisis some point soon, but at the moment we’re treading
exposure or peracetic acid for decon, a long time before water waiting for it to turn up. The nuclear and chemical
we see any detection experiments. dramas of 2018 are still fresh in the audience’s memory,
It’ll also be interesting to see how soon Novichoks are conflict in Syria and Yemen seems to be winding down but
included in major military exercises and what impact, if the proxies are still keen to get at each other somewhere,
any, that has on existing TTPs. so all the plot lines are still extant. Maybe numerology will
Bio wise 2019 was a fairly quiet year, not that it should occur in 2020, and the promise of a clean decade will be
have been. We saw the second largest Ebola outbreak on embraced and we will solve the riddles that have plagued
record, with over 2,000 dead and 3,000 infected. Over mankind [I’d settle for ‘how clean is clean?’ Ed.]… but I
250,000 people have been vaccinated, without which the wouldn’t bet on it.
CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020
www.cbrneworld.com December 2019 CBRNe WORLD 1

CBRNe December 2019 vPress:CBRNe December 2019 vPress 02/01/2020 09:23 Page 2
Contents 1-7
Leader,
25-29 Falcon’s crest:
Contents, The future of the
News UK’s Falcon Sqdn
Turkish delight:
Your Cover: AFAD’s ongoing
Important information CBRN journey
on this issue’s cover art
8 33-36 Finding Closure:

Horse with no name:
Prof. Piot on lessons Dr Natalie Pomerantz et al
from the first Ebola and their new PPE work
10-15 40-43
English mustard: New kid on the block:
Chief Inspector Vickers on Marc Michael Blum on the
the Woodhall Spa case CWC and Novichoks
16-20 44-48
Tuning up: Strengthening the Cell Wall:
CBRNe Convergence 2019 John Hart on the BTWC
21-24
Published by Falcon Communications Limited
49-50
Contact Details:
Editor Business Marcoms For Sales: CBRNe World
Gwyn Winfield Development Manager +1 443 605 2583 Suite 26, Basepoint,
Manager Zoe Rutherford david.levitt@cbrneworld.com 1 Winnall Valley Road,
Business James Ross Winchester, Hampshire
+44 (0)1962 832 534
Development Sub Editor SO23 0LD, UK
Director Business james.ross@cbrneworld.co.uk
Jenny Walton
David Levitt Development
Executives Correspondents For Editorial: Web: www.cbrneworld.com
Art Director Anna Dziaczkowska Jeffrey Bigongiari +44 (0)1962 832 532 Twitter: @cbrneworld
Tony Denton Brian O’Shea gwyn.winfield@cbrneworld.com LinkedIn: cbrneworld
2 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

51-52
Advertiser Index
AirBoss Defense 35
Argon Electronics 29
Feeling abandoned:
The demil mission Blauer Manufacturing Company 9
in China
BioFire Defense IBC
CBRNe Convergence Boston 2020 37
CBRNe Jakarta 30
Given the boot: CBRNe Summit 42
Hand and foot PPE
53-54
Cristanini 19
DQE, Inc. 13
Ecotest IFC
Early shower: First Line Technology IBC
FEMA and Nashville
on PRISM Flir 7
55-58 HLS Indonesia 2020
NBC-Sys
57
13
Proengin 47
Thermo Fisher Scientific 27

Capability profiles
59-61
Zeteo Tech 15
CBRNe World (ISSN No: 2040 - 2724, USPS No: 000 -

138) is published bi-monthly in February, April, June,
August, October & December by Falcon Communications
CBax & Ltd and distributed in the US by Asendia USA, 17B S
Prairie Dog Middlesex Ave, Monroe NJ 08831. Periodicals postage
62-64
paid at New Brunswick, NJ and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: send address changes to:
Falcon Communications US LLC, 2404 Fairway Oaks
Court, Suite 100, Hampstead, Maryland, 21074.
Legal Niceties: Reproduction in whole, or part, of any content of CBRNe World, without prior permission, is strictly
prohibited. Any correspondence should be addressed to The Editor, CBRNe World. We acknowledge the assistance and hard
work of many individuals, associations and organisations who have contributed to this magazine. The information published
in this magazine has been published in good faith and the opinions contained in the article are those of the author and not
Falcon Communication Ltd. Photos are credited individually, non attributed articles are from the CBRNe World archive.
©Falcon Communication Ltd 2019. Front cover image ©Anna van der Linde/CBRNe World

CBRNews
GLOBAL CBRN THREATS AND ACTIVITY
Our threat overview is now complemented by our online E Newsletter. Every two months we will do an extended
online version of this map, and a major Threat E Newsletter every year. Sign up for your copy via www.cbrneworld.com
or follow us on Twitter via @cbrneworld
THREAT WATCH by a chemical plant explosion that killed ventilation off to the nearest suitable
Abrin Plot 47 and injured over 600 people. facility and segregate from others inside.
Just after we went to press in October, It was ascertained that the alarm went
news began to emerge of a foiled bomb Enewetak Atoll off due to a faulty electrical connection,
plot in Jakarta involving members of After concerns were raised that a and there was no issue at the site.
Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, or JAD, an concrete dome in the south pacific filled
Islamic State-affiliated terror group based with the debris from 43 nuclear Radioactive Ice Sheets!
in Indonesia. During raids of the explosions, known as the Runit Dome, A new study has found that Antarctica’s
premises of those arrested police may be leaking radioactive material into ice sheets are still releasing radioactive
discovered bombs mixed with other the ocean the US government has chlorine from marine nuclear tests
ingredients such as RDX, NaO3, announced it will spend close to $1.7 carried out in the 1950’s. This suggests
methanol, urea, HMTD, and 310 grams of million analyzing the structure. The that regions in Antarctica store and vent
rosary pea seeds, the main ingredient of concerns were raised due to the fact the the radioactive element differently than
Abrin. Since the news of the arrests bottom of the crater was never lined previously thought. Nuclear weapons
broke there has not been much more in and cracks have developed in the tests carried out in the Pacific Ocean
the way of information, but we will keep concrete after decades of exposure. The during the 1950s and 1960s caused
our eyes peeled. contents of the dome are the result of reactions that generated high
30 megatons of weapons that were concentrations of isotopes like chlorine-
China Explosion tested on the Enewetak Atoll between 36, some of which made it to Antarctica,
Explosions in chemical plants, factories, 1948 and 1958. where it was deposited on Antarctica's ice
or storage units in China is a regular and has remained ever since.
occurrence. October saw a plant Faulty Connection
explosion which killed four, injured six, An alert to take cover at the Hanford site No ordinary selfie
and completely destroyed the factory, at recently was lifted 30 minutes after it was A resident at a halfway house in
the time of reporting it was stated that determined to be a false alarm. The site, Pennsylvania found himself in hot water
the explosion was caused by a reactor which produced plutonium for America's after ordering Uranium on the internet.
containing five tonnes of toxic defense program, has an alert system Why did he order the Uranium you ask,
substances, but not which substances. informing personnel to move inside or, if did he have nefarious intentions? Quite
Earlier this year the country was rocked in a vehicle in the field, drive with the opposite in fact, according to

reports he told police officers he had Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all Cyanide Restrictions
made the purchase because he thought the world Public sales of Cyanide have been
it would be cool to ‘take a selfie’ with Authorities in Morocco released in late restricted in Turkey following a recent
the Uranium and post the pictures on October that they had found chemical spate of murder—suicides across the
Facebook! No charges will be pressed as agents as part of a weapons cache region. The cases shook Turkey when
the substance was determined to be during raids conducted on a terrorist three families apparently used suicide
Uranium-238, which can legally be cell likely aligned with IS. The raids took to kill themselves and their children, in
shipped through the mail. place near Casablanca during which the space of three weeks. In response
seven individuals were arrested. A to the deaths Cyanide will now be
Exploding Evidence security spokesman said that Morocco added to the list of “Restrictions on the
Six members of staff at the Karnataka has become more focused on the threat Manufacture, Supply and Use of Certain
state forensic laboratory in Bengaluru, of chemical weapons and implemented Hazardous Substances, Compounds and
India, were injured when an IED that was a new plan earlier this year to protect Materials,” which means that its sale to
being examined as evidence exploded. the country of threats that go beyond the public will be banned once the
Three of the staff members were car bombs and suicide vests. regulation is approved.
grievously injured. According to police, the
victims had begun examining the IED that Pesticide Payback Mislabelling strikes again
was seized as part of a case in 2016, at A man in Singapore has been jailed for Thirteen people were hospitalised, and
the time of seizure the bomb squad 6 months for trying to poison his another fifty treated on scene after a
declared that the device was not live, the nephew. The two men work together, Hazmat incident, at a New Hampshire
police had this documented in their report and the man in question took it upon manufacturing facility, caused by
so the technicians were operating under himself to place pesticide into his mislabelled package of powder from a
this assumption. Police have now said that nephew’s beverage after he scolded him vendor. The staff at the facility used the
it was the chemical inside the device that for sleeping in the bathroom during mislabelled powder to make their product,
caused the explosion. work hours. The pesticide, stolen from a which reacted improperly, sickening the
shelf in their place of work, was not employees. There has been no further
Does Myanmar have Mustard? ingested as the man’s nephew noticed a information on what the powder was but
The US recently accused Myanmar of ‘toxic’ smell emanating from the drink. those admitted to the hospital have been
being in breach of the Chemical Weapons released with a clean bill of health. Goes
Convention, and may have a stockpile left Monkeypox visits the UK (again) to show how important it is to pay
over from the 1980’s. Deputy Assistant On November 4th the major UK news attention when labelling potentially
Secretary of State, Thomas DiNanno, outlets began reporting there was a hazardous substances.
raised the concerns at the annual case of Monkeypox in the UK. The
meeting of the OPCW stating that "The patient was initially being treated in the
US has serious concerns that a chemical South West of England, but once Public PRODuCT WATCH
weapons stockpile may remain at Health England confirmed the diagnosis More from FLIR
Myanmar's historical chemical weapons of Monkeypox, the patient was FLIR have had a bumper couple of
facility,” where Mustard agent was one transferred to a central London hospital months when it comes to new products,
produced. Myanmar officials have refuted for specialist treatment. It is believed in October we wrote about the release of
the claims stating that the military hasn’t the patient contracted the virus when the MUVE C360, and now following on
had any program relating to chemical visiting Nigeria recently, an area which from that they have also released two
weapons before or after the country’s has had at least four outbreaks of more products. The identiFINDER 425
ratification of the CWC. Monkeypox in 2019. radionuclide identification device, a new
single cubic detector design, with
Another Caustic Attack Texas Burning sourceless stabilization, advanced
Attacks on people with corrosive Explosions at a chemical plant in Port heuristics, and hybrid identification
substances is a common occurrence in Neche, Texas, injured 3 employees, and techniques delivers three times the
the UK and now spreading worldwide. In led to fires that raged for six days. It gamma and two times the neutron
November 51 children and 3 teachers was reported that the initial explosion sensitivity of currently fielded systems.
were injured at a kindergarten in knocked out power to the plant, so
southwest China when a man attacked authorities had no "ability to check the The FIDO X4 is a premium handheld
them with a corrosive chemical. Two of volume of available chemicals" and "no explosives trace detector that delivers
those hit were injured seriously, but their way to calculate burn rates" at that time. unmatched sensitivity for a broad range
injuries were not life threatening. A 23- The fire was burning butadiene, which is of explosives and features a new five-
year-old man was arrested shortly after considered a health hazard, however at channel sensor array that delivers
the incident, it is believed he carried out the time of the incident a monitoring expanded threat coverage, enhanced
the attack as an act of revenge on society. station four miles west of the plant sensitivity, and identification in a wide
reported levels well below concern. range of environmental conditions. In
Sellafield Waste Blunder addition, it was announced that the
In late October nuclear chiefs admitted A Pocket Full of Posies MUVE C360 won the ASTORS Homeland
that samples from the Sellafield nuclear In November reports began to emerge Security award for ‘Best CBRNe
plant were disposed of erroneously. An of cases of Plague being diagnosed in Detection Device’.
investigation has been launched into two people in Beijing. It was then
how 50 cylindrical samples, from the confirmed that these two people had Give it a sniff
concrete base of a reprocessing plant the Pneumonic form of the disease Porton Biopharma Ltd (PBL), the sole
stack, were taken to a lab more than and had been transferred to Beijing manufacturer of the UK’s licensed
260 miles away and disposed of in the from Mongolia. Reports then began to anthrax vaccine, announced recently that
lab’s own designated landfill site for surface of a 3rd case, and then a 4th, it had signed a modification to its
uncontaminated materials, when they it was later confirmed that these contract US NIAID to advance a next
should have been returned to Sellafield cases, also from Mongolia, were of generation intra-nasal anthrax vaccine
for disposal. Officials have stressed the Bubonic variety. Despite headlines into the clinical-trial phase. The contract
that the blunder “posed no radiological of ‘Black Death in China’, there modification, worth US $4.5 million,
risk to the public, the workforce, or have been no new cases, of either follows approval by the US FDS of the
the environment”. variety, reported. investigational new drug (IND)

application. The phase 1 clinical study is Eye Eye according to College of Emergency
expected to begin enrolment this year UVeye has officially launched its UV Preparedness, Homeland Security and
and combines Blue Willow’s novel Inspect threat detection technology. Cybersecurity (CEHC) Associate Professor
intra-nasal NanoVax system with Developed to instantly detect threats Gary Ackerman, who, along with his
PBL’s recombinant protective antigen such as bombs, weapons, and drugs, colleague, CEHC Assistant Professor
for anthrax. stowed in the undercarriage of Brandon Behlendorf, are launching the
vehicles, UV Inspect is powered by Center for Advanced Red Teaming (CART)
Just a little (finger) stick deep learning computer vision at UAlbany this semester to change that.
Researchers from the Center for Applied technologies. With this launch, UV
NanoBioscience and Medicine (ANBM), Inspect joins UVeye’s arsenal of Rapiscan Can
The University of Arizona, College of detection technologies, which includes The RTT110 Explosive Detection
Medicine have developed a blood self- UVcompare, the deep learning-driven Systems (EDS) by Rapiscan has been
collection device to quickly estimate a system that monitors trends of repeat tested by the European Civil Aviation
person’s exposure to radiation. Using 3- traffic to identify changes which could Conference (ECAC) and has achieved the
D printing, a miniaturized vacuum tube, indicate a threat or issue for concern. ECAC 3.1 performance standard for
coupled with integrated capillaries and a EDS. This is currently the highest
lancet, were fabricated into a self- Siga in Canada testing standard used by ECAC for EDS
collection device that can process the Announced mid-November that the systems in Europe. The RTT 110 is an
blood specimen for both cytogenetic and Canadian Department of National industry-leading, advanced-technology
gene expression biodosimetry that then Defence (CDND) has issued an advanced system that is already in use in airports
would be analyzed in a centralized contract award notice (ACAN), indicating and air cargo screening facilities around
bioanalytical laboratory. that it intends to award a contract to the world. Customers choose the RTT
fund regulatory filing with Health 110 to improve the speed, efficiency and
Swab it Canada for approval of oral TPOXX. The effectiveness of their hold baggage and
At the IACP in October, SwabTek, ACAN is required to remain open for air cargo screening operations.
leaders in the narcotics and explosives approximately 15 days, during which
presumptive testing industry, introduced time a potential alternative supplier who All About the Bio
the world's only dry reagent narcotics meets the requirements may submit a According to a recently published broad
and explosives field test kits developed competing Statement of Capabilities. agency announcement (BAA) DARPA has
for the law enforcement community. SIGA is the only company currently able launched the Personalized Protective
With its disruptive, patent-protected to fulfil this requirement. Biosystem Program with the aim of to
technologies implementing a single-use rapidly producing wearable technology
spot test utilizing a paper strip with dry Гaз, Гaз, Гaз that prevents threatening agents from
reagent test zones applied to the strip By the end of this year, 1,000 modern entering the body, as well as cutting-
surface, and a cotton swab to transfer PMK-2 respirators will arrive in edge barriers that can neutralize
the suspect residue to the paper strip Western Military District of Russia to damaging agents. The ultimate aim of
test zone with minimal disruption, be used by the Guards Tank Army the program is to stimulate the
SwabTek test kits provide a safe, 100% formations and military units. These development of suits that give better
recyclable, non-hazardous alternative to respirators are unique because they protection and, simultaneously,
the old industry standard of not only provide dermal and eliminate bulky and cumbersome PPE.
complicated, multi-step test sequences. respiratory protection from radioactive More information on the BAA can be
dust and toxic substances, but also found at sam.gov.
Patriot One Sells PATSCAN from hazardous chemicals. The PMK-2
Patriot One Technologies has sold the allows for the presence of two filtering- Budget Bunker
PATSCAN Multi-Sensor Covert Threat absorbing elements, which significantly Budget supermarket Lidl has announced
Detection Platform with its security increases personnel’s protection time they want to build a store near the
system to integrator/reseller partner in conditions where weapons of mass Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in
Ginter Electrical Contractors, LLC destruction, including nuclear and the UK, there is one small hitch though.
(“Ginter Electrical”) of Cincinnati, OH chemical ones, have been deployed. Due to the proximity to the AWE site,
and Major League Baseball franchise, which builds and maintains the UK’s
the Cincinnati Reds. The platform was The Pentagon Wants In nuclear warheads, the company has
shipped to Ginter Electrical in late The U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary, been told it would need to include an
October, where it was joined by Patriot David Norquist, has said that American emergency plan in case of a major
One engineers and the Cincinnati Reds defense firms should not be cut out of incident, which would include staff
security teams to begin deploying the European Union programs to strengthen being trained to shelter shoppers. Food
solution at the Great American Ball its industrial base, such as the European and drink would of course not be an
Park. Defence Fund (EDF) and the Permanent issue, proper ventilation and waste
Structured Cooperation program. The disposal however may be, meaning Lidl
Take a Deep Breath EDF, which commands a $14 billion pool might have to build their own shelter.
In November Avon Protection announced of money “must allow the United States
that the UK MOD General Service and other non-EU allies to participate BioHybrid Solutions
Respirator (‘GSR’) is now in production and compete for business,” or risk Biotech’ company BioHybrid Solutions,
and work has begun to deliver the first duplication that undermines trans- is partnering with the U.S. DOD on a
order. Avon was awarded the 5-year Atlantic security said Norquist at the countermeasure for chemical agents,
contract to resupply and provide in- NATO-Industry Forum in Washington. such as sarin gas. BioHybrid Solutions
service support in February 2018. After specializes in making drugs work over a
a year of development, samples of the Red Team Go longer period of time by giving them a
GSR were provided to DSTL for Historically in the U.S. independent “red special polymer outer coating. The
laboratory testing and user evaluation. team” groups have been used by the federal government has tasked the
These tests were successfully passed military to test how well their armed company with developing a long-lasting
and the GSR was accepted into service forces can withstand attacks from pill that could protect a person against
in September, and Avon received the adversaries. Despite its growth in nerve agents used in chemical warfare.
first order for respirators and spares at popularity, both the science and art of The $30 million contract will last for
the beginning of October. red teaming remains underdeveloped, five years.

R425 210w x 297h SIZE final.pdf 1 11/18/19 10:14 AM
BETTER
DETECTION
In all directions
C
CM H A N D H E L D R A D I AT I O N D E T E C T O R
FLIR
identiFINDER
®
MY
CY
CMY R425
K
Locate, Identify, and Measure

Radioactive Sources with Confidence
Introducing the next generation of the world’s most

deployed RID – the FLIR identiFINDER R425 - now with
increased sensitivity, flexible power management, and
industry-leading communication features. FLIR’s new
cubic detector design, sourceless stabilization, advanced
heuristics, and hybrid identification techniques enable
the identiFINDER R425 to deliver high performance
detection in all directions. The ergonomic design is 15%
lighter than previous generations, while the exceptional
12-hour battery life provides the right balance for a
variety of scenarios including surveying, emergency
response, and environmental monitoring.
Visit flir.com/r425 to learn more

CBRNeWORLD
Your cover
O
ften in conversation people ask ‘Where do you get the ideas
for your covers?’ The short, and honest, answer is ‘I steal
them!’ During my various travels if I can combine it with a
Comic Con I will, as the ‘Cons’ are the best place to meet cover
artists. A lot of them are very talented individuals, but all they want
to do is draw comic book characters in various poses. About 10-20%
of them are individuals outside this vein, and inevitably they are the
ones that will end up with original artwork on the cover of CBRNe
World. Browsing through their portfolio they often have images that
spark a resonance with CBRN, one example would be the work that
Gyula Nemeth has done on The Island of Dr Moreau
(https://twitter.com/gynemeth78/status/927591786775801857/
photo/1), which inspired the August 2018 ‘Ebola’ cover, another
example of this would be Anna Van Der Linde for this issue.
I originally stopped to talk to Anna about an idea that I have
been percolating for a number of years on a major arcana Tarot
cover, and while chatting about that I flipped through her portfolio.
Anna had drawn a Miles Morales/Spiderverse image (centre here -
https://twitter.com/ AnnaDrawsStuff/status/1104068241712926720/
photo/1) and it suddenly meshed with the interview that I had done
with the Health and Safety Laboratory on their fluorochromes for
Ebola splash contamination. Instead of ‘Morales’ we could have a
post-apocalyptic guide, ready for a price to get people across the
nuclear wasteland.
We would have a separate fluorochrome ink layer laid on top of
the cover, that when you hit it with a black light would reveal details
that would otherwise remain hidden. We had to work on the
assumption that people would either not notice that there was a
hidden layer, or not have a black light (we had to purchase one for
the office!), so the cover needed to work both with and without the
additional layer.
Anna was really easy to work with (not all artists are) and really
rummaged into the history of radiological detectors to try and find
the right mix of old and modern. She has managed to produce one of
my favourite covers, bright, vibrant and with a range of ‘Easter eggs’
for those that know what they are looking for. With and without black light
Anna Draws Stuff!

“My name is Anna, I am a full-time character artist and illustrator from the Netherlands. I have been
drawing since I was a kid, but set my sights on making it my job when I was about sixteen years old
and haven't looked back since! I started my own business earlier this year, and now I sell my work at
various pop-culture themed conventions around Europe as well as online.
I like to work in a painterly style and have a serious obsession with color and all sorts of other odd
aesthetics. When it comes to inspiration, I try to take a little bit of everything. I am an optimist in
heart and soul, and I fully believe that there is beautiful and interesting things to be found in the
mundane as well as in the fantastical.
I am delighted to have had the opportunity to dip my toes into the world of CBRNe, it has been wildly interesting to me
and I hope that it shows!” hey@annadrawsstuff.com

Ditch the bubble suit
Non-Encapsulating NFPA 1994 Class 1 Suits
Now Qualify as OSHA Level A
RETHINK LEVEL A
ASSESS. SELECT. DEPLOY.
LEVERAGE TODAY’S MODERNIZED ENSEMBLES AND
CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGIES THAT MEET YOUR RISK.
www.RethinkLevelA.com/faqs
Blauer’s Multi-Threat ensemble is certified

to NFPA 1994 for Class 1 protection against
HAZMAT agents in liquid, vapor, and
particulate forms.
- “Tactical Level A” design with integrated knee
and elbow pads for use in confined space and
physically demanding HAZMAT missions.
- Certified for use with multiple NIOSH CBRN
approved SCBA systems.
- Appropriate as initial entry PPE for HAZMAT
emergencies including “unknown” environments
(OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120)
- Non-permeable GORETM CHEMPAKTM Ultra-barrier
fabric is constructed with NOMEX IIIA fabric
and is highly abrasion and tear resistant.
- Single-piece design with attached gloves,
over socks and hood for ease of use.
- Unique “evaporative cooling” feature minimizes
thermal burden on user.
Multi-Threat suit
NFPA 1994 Class 1 & NFPA 1992
www.blauer.com/chembio
chembio@blauer.com
Class_1_Ad_CBRNE_Mag.indd 1 10/4/19 3:05 PM

Professor Baron Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene &
CBRNeWORLD
Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), talks to Zoe Rutherford about what lessons
should be taken from his Ebola experiences
A horse with
no name
On 1 August 2018 an outbreak of Ebola would most likely be infected with around the world by standard couriers
virus disease (EVD) was declared in the yellow fever. That was the clinical in something akin to a coffee can. This
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). diagnosis made by a physician in was down to a lack of knowledge in
Now, 16 months on, the outbreak Kinshasa - or one of the possibilities at most cases, but with knowledge comes
continues, and with 3,330 cases of EVD least - and yellow fever is certainly fear. Modern levels of precaution are for
and 2,206 deaths this is the second endemic in the equatorial forest of DRC. our protection but that could mean we
largest ever seen. Outbreaks like this This rationale was also the reason why have built up those levels of precaution
one, and the one in West Africa, have the samples were deemed safe to be sent to the point they hold back response to
not been the norm for this virus. It has to ITM and studied there. The team was Ebola outbreaks and inhibit innovation.
been known to pop up on a semi- cleared to work on hazard group three “We have become more risk averse,”
regular basis since the 1970s but earlier (HG3) pathogens, and never dreamed says Piot, “but you don’t want to kill
case rates have been low in comparison that they would be receiving an HG4. anyone who is manipulating and
to those of recent years. With outbreaks Once the team got the samples working with clinical specimens. Do I
like this, we need to consider whether under EM and saw the twisty shape of a think this inhibits innovation? No.”
the present picture is going to continue, Marburg-like virus, they got a shock. Today’s techniques are also much
and if so, what we can do to prepare According to Professor Piot their initial better, eliminating some of the risks
ourselves and protect people from the response was surprise because they had involved when handling viruses like
next outbreak. never seen anything like it. “We even Ebola. Prof Piot suggests that the
One man who knows a lot about this had to look at an atlas. You know these isolation of viruses when he first
particular filovirus is Professor Baron days I have to explain to students that started, was “more like cooking - you
Peter Piot1, director of the LSHTM and you couldn’t just Google something”. injected mice, put the samples on cells,
Handa Professor of Global Health, who This was followed by excitement, and waited, observed and then shook it up to
in 1976, at the age of 27 was part of the then fear. In those days Marburg was see what happened.”
team that first saw Ebola under electron the only known filovirus but this wasn’t Modern polymerase chain reaction
microscopy (EM). He then eagerly Marburg. At that point the team at ITM (PCR) means that you know what you’re
raised his hand to volunteer to go into a was instructed to stop all work and ship dealing with in an hour or two and what
hot zone and work towards identifying their samples to the US. precautions to take. Advances have
the virus, a decision which led to his Looking back now and knowing made things faster and more accurate,
name forever becoming linked to Ebola. what they were dealing with, in a lab ill- and improvements in molecular
Talking with Professor Piot the first equipped to handle an HG4, (in fact it epidemiology mean that we can respond
thing one wants to ask is whether he was what you might call HG3 light), quicker, while adaptation of the
ever looks back to 1976 and thinks: they must surely feel lucky that they technology has allowed it to be taken
“What the hell was I thinking?” It turns were not infected, considering they from the laboratory to the field. This is
out he wasn’t thinking much at all! “It didn’t know what it was exactly, or how an improvement on trying to isolate a
was the excitement of discovery and of it was transmitted. “I definitely wouldn’t virus where you need continuous cell
science, I’m very driven by curiosity and do it again” says Prof Piot. “Yes, I feel lines and animal models, something
adventure and I thought this was a lucky, because people working in labs2 that is much harder to do in a resource
unique opportunity. In fact, I was very have been killed by Ebola. Even during poor environments. That said reliance
concerned that I didn’t know enough, the ’76 outbreak there was a lab on this tech means that we could be
but I said, ok, let’s go for it, and I would technician at Porton Down who, creating a generation of microbiologists
do the same now.” ironically, was working in an HG 4 lab without the skill sets they may need if
When the first Ebola samples arrived and got infected via a needlestick. they find themselves in an austere
at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Fortunately he survived”3 environment without PCR, for example.
(ITM) in September 1976 the team in Labs were a lot less risk averse in Professor Piot is an advocate for
the lab were expecting samples that those days and samples were sent both the new and the old ways of doing

CBRNeWORLD
The team that was involved in the identification of Ebola. Piot center in bright shirt ©CDC
things. Advances in technology means for something new and unusual.” and transmit the virus to multiple
samples and procedures can be done Another lesson Prof Piot feels is people without knowing. I couldn’t
locally and don’t have to be shipped out important is that the most dangerous imagine it, even today with the current
of the country of origin, which really patients, or specimens, for healthcare outbreak in eastern Congo that now has
empowers local scientists and those in workers are the ones that you don’t over 3,000 cases. [The Zaire strain] was
charge. This happens in the DRC, which think will have Ebola. “Never be really unexpected. The belief was that
has demonstrated a good track record of surprised and always be on the lookout this was a central African problem but
early diagnosis of outbreaks which they for the unusual, but we can’t function now we know that it is there, and with
monitor themselves. “If I were in charge properly if all we think about are the the presumed reservoir being bats, it
of training in the field, I would suggest most extreme cases, you need to find can appear anywhere in Africa.”
that everybody has to learn the classic that balance.” In the 1976 Ebola Zaire outbreak,
methods and see cells growing,” says The unexpected 1976 Zaire Ebola diagnosis of a filovirus was made within
Piot “but I’m 70 years old, so maybe outbreak is recorded as stopping in five weeks of the index cases, in 2013/14
that’s a bit old fashioned!” under 11 weeks with 318 cases and 280 it took over three months. The quick
As we encounter new emerging deaths. The 2014 outbreak in West identification of the 1976 outbreak was
infectious diseases (EIDs) field Africa, however resulted in 11,310 deaths mostly down to luck. The outbreak
epidemiologists need to do all they can and lasted for over two years. As occurred in Yambuku, which had a
to prevent themselves from become someone who experienced the 1976 mission hospital run by Belgian nuns,
blinkered, be that educationally or outbreak first-hand, did the 2014 who, according to Prof Piot, were “like
practically. Young doctors are taught to outbreak come as a surprise to Prof Piot? the canaries in the mines”. Professor
think ‘horse’ when they hear hooves, “I always assumed that Ebola was Jean-Jacques Muyembe4, a virologist
but in uncertain times they need to confined to very rural areas, isolated working in DRC, went to investigate and
realise it could be ‘zebra’. Prof Piot areas, and at the end of the day it’s not was the first person to see Ebola
suggested that the 2014 EVD outbreak that easily transmitted on a population patients. He then took one of the sick
in West Africa was the perfect example level. Classically, with Ebola, you are nuns with him to Kinshasa. As Prof Piot
of this. “Nobody expected Ebola in only infectious when you are puts it: “He is really the one who for the
Guinea and Sierra Leone, it was symptomatic, and the majority of first time saw and examined a patient
supposedly limited to central Africa. You patients die after a week or so, therefore with Ebola. The nun died and her
should first look for things you know the opportunities for transmission are samples were sent to us in Belgium. It
are common and prevalent in a much lower. This is not measles or is pretty much of a coincidence it was
particular area and the specific clinical influenza that are highly transmissible, diagnosed that fast.”
picture you are being presented with, or HIV where someone can be In Guinea and Sierra Leone in 2014,
but you also need to keep an open mind asymptomatically infected for 10 years there were many factors acting against

CBRNeWORLD
A horse with no name
rapid diagnosis. No one expected to see human trials. Thankfully this trend has are available for outbreaks in poor
Ebola in West Africa to begin with, and continued, much to the professor’s countries, but we need to rethink how
you cannot find what you are not satisfaction. “I’m pleased with Merck we are dealing with Ebola in general.”
looking for. There were also issues with and J&J because they have invested At the moment we have a reactive
the country’s medical infrastructure, seriously in Ebola vaccine development, strategy. An outbreak starts and we all
which had been destroyed by war and and the Merck vaccine is now licensed fly in and spend lots of money and
corrupt dictatorships, so there were no after recommendation by the European resources containing it, but now that
local labs to make a diagnosis. As Prof Medicines Agency (EMA)6 so that is a vaccines are available we need to start
Piot said: “It is a combination of the huge game changer. J&J have now also considering primary prevention,
zebra and hooves problem, and filed an application with the EMA.” vaccinating health workers at least in
insufficient infrastructure. That was also This is great news, but we can’t countries with regular Ebola outbreaks.
the case in DRC in 1976, but because it expect industry to put hundreds of “Let’s not forget over 500 healthcare
was seen in a mission hospital, and millions of dollars into something that workers died during the west African
Professor Muyembe was proactive in will yield minimal commercial return. outbreak, and around 50 in DRC during
sending us the samples, that made all They have shareholders to answer to the current one. Preventative
the difference.” and costs to cover, so we aren’t going to vaccination would protect those on the
Ebola has now become endemic to see 20 different formulations for a virus front lines of treatment, potentially
the point it has been classified as a like Ebola. This will mean that some make it easier to treat patients as you
disease, yet there is still fear, mistrust, percentage of the population will would need less PPE, and health
and conspiracy about its origins among remain at risk due to non-response to services could continue to operate
people in Africa. Despite the best efforts these two vaccines, also a vaccine might normally. I think it is important to have
of medical organisations to educate the be too late for some, who will require that strategy discussion now” said Piot.
populace and assuage their fears, the late stage therapeutics. Medically it’s a CEPI’s priority diseases currently
actions of some have created increased step in the right direction, but the stand as MERS-CoV, Lassa, Nipah, Rift
infection rates. The same can be said of chances of these options turning into a Valley fever and Chikungunya. There are
other viruses endemic in Africa, such as menu of choices is slim. pathogens not on this list, such as
HIV. The fact that Ebola can be Companies like Merck and J&J have Disease X8, that should give us cause for
transmitted sexually, with the virus benefited from public funding from concern as much as those CEPI is
shared in seminal fluid, suggests that it organisations such as the Biomedical currently fighting to find vaccines for.
is possible to have a longer term Advanced Research and Development “The most important one is not on that
reservoir of the virus emerging here and Authority (BARDA) in the US, and the list, which would be a new strain of
there that can lead to issues of trust in Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) in influenza to be precise, [leading to] a
the population Europe. One of Professor Piot’s many Spanish flu type of disaster. Anything
The medical community is hopeful roles7 is as vice chair for the Coalition that is respiratory transmitted is far
that we will be able to change this sense for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations more dangerous than a virus like Ebola.
of fear, but according to Prof Piot this is (CEPI) board, whose mission is to Another one that should be of concern
doubtful. “[It is] no coincidence that it finance and coordinate the development at present is dengue. It is currently
took so long to control Ebola in eastern of new vaccines to prevent and contain affecting so many people, and it is
Congo because of the insecurity that is infectious disease epidemics. “We need something that I think with climate
going on there. Without that insecurity I organisations like these to fund and change will affect more and more
think it would have been under control stimulate the development of vaccines people in years to come”
probably a year ago, but there are other against epidemic pathogens where there Professor Piot first became
issues such as the fact it is a very densely is no market incentive. Influenza, for interested in sexually transmitted
populated area, and community example, is not part of the CEPI infections (STIs) while working on
mistrust, but a lot of the long running portfolio as companies already make Ebola in Zaire, which through
epidemics we see today like cholera in lots of money from influenza treatments circumstance and curiosity led to his
Yemen and Ebola in Africa, they are in and vaccines,” said Prof Piot. work with what we now know as HIV.
environments where there is either a We have entered an age where there Much like Ebola, we didn’t know what it
humanitarian crisis, conflict, or massive have been advances in the production of was when HIV began to emerge. The
suspicion of the government.” vaccines for exotic diseases such as first patients showed increased rates of
We do seem to be winning the dengue, with Sanofi and Takeda investing STIs, opportunistic infections, and
current round in the fight against in development. But for some of the infections in confusing circumstances
Ebola, with the introduction of vaccines more geographically confined pathogens, such as Kaposi’s sarcoma and
throughout DRC. Prof Piot was a particularly those like Lassa, Ebola, and pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). While
member of the board that Marburg in Africa, there is not the same these indicated that something was
recommended ZMAPP5 be released for investment. Prof Piot said: “It is amiss, it is amazing to think that this
use in 2014 ,before it had undergone important to make sure these products unknown would lead to over 40m

8)&/*5$0.&450%&$0/5".*/"5*0/
%2&)"4:06$07&3&%
&BTZ8BZTUP%FDPO
$IPPTFZPVSQFSGFDU
EFDPOFRVJQNFOU
&RVJQNFOU
%FDPO
+ $ECON
7JTJUXXX%RFSFBEZDPN%FDPOUPWJFXPVSGVMMEFDPOQSPEVDUTFMFDUJPO
XXXERFSFBEZDPN]
NBCsys_IndividualProtection_210x148.indd 1 13/05/2018 17:27

CBRNeWORLD
A horse with no name
deaths, 75million people infected and

8m new cases a year!
Prof Piot has spent far more of his
life working on HIV than on Ebola.
“When you think about the first coverage
in the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC) weekly morbidity and
mortality report in June 1981 it
mentioned six to nine gay men in
California with these mysterious cases of
PCP, and then a few more cases here and
there. I could never imagine it would
lead to this. I had this idea that they are
connected to each other in some way and
had an “Ah-Ha!” moment in 1983 in a
hospital in Kinshasa where I saw the
internal medicine ward was full of young
men and women, and I thought ‘wow,
this is an epidemic’ and that it had a
great potential for spread. I didn’t think
in terms of millions, I thought
thousands, but I was clearly wrong.”
For Ebola and HIV the big question
is: will we see their eradication in our
lifetime? With Ebola it is unlikely, as the
virus has a natural animal reservoir and
we can’t eradicate all the bats. Ebola
will continue to infect individuals and
that might lead to an outbreak. Early
intervention, through vaccines and
detection, can prevent those few cases
from turning into a major outbreak.
HIV is different. “The HIV virus
originally came from chimpanzees, but Modern field diagnostics are often better than what Prof. Piot could have hoped
for in a 1976 laboratory! ©CDC
now there is only the human reservoir.
Theoretically we could eliminate it with that we need a very effective vaccine to people gave us the answers to how
a vaccine, and we certainly won’t which is deployed worldwide, and we Ebola was transmitted. Maybe we forget
eliminate it without one. The number of should not rest until that is done.” to do that sometimes. As scientists, we
new infections and deaths has gone With 40 years’ experience of fighting fill in questionnaires and observe
down, but we still have 8m new with viruses what piece of wisdom can symptoms, but taking the time to listen
infections a year, an incredible number. Prof Piot leave the next generation to people is very important. Epidemics
I fear that the UN goal of less than about Ebola? “Never be surprised,” he will always be with us; they are zoonotic
500,000 new cases by 2020 cannot be says, “always look for the zebra but and now and then they will cross the
reached. I am not a pessimist, we can do don’t lose sight of the horse. In terms of species barrier. Infectious diseases are
better and make sure that fewer people understanding new epidemics the most going down in a big way, but EIDs will
die and fewer become infected, but important thing is listen to people and always be around. We need to be
when you talk about elimination that what their stories tell you. That is one prepared and ensure we continue to
means just ending transmission, and for of the things I learned in 1976, listening invest in new tools and local capacity.”
1
https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/people/piot.peter
2
https://www.who.int/features/2015/ebola-health-worker-sesay/en/
3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola_virus_disease_in_the_United_Kingdom
4
https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/96/12/18-031218/en/
5
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZMapp
6
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ebola-vaccine-approved-in-europe-in-landmark-moment/
7
https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/people/piot.peter
8
https://cepi.net/research_dev/priority-diseases/

ZeteoTech
CBRNeWORLD Chief Inspector Phil Vickers, from Lincolnshire police,

talks to Gwyn Winfield about the Woodhall Spa mustard case
Spa treatment
I
have previously stated that you don’t Reading up he finds a web page that removed from ground adjacent to where
have to be smart to be involved in a says mustard burns can be fatal, and the box had been identified and EOD
CBRN plot, but you are likely to be one of the ways these munitions are indicated that the scene should be
an MSc – mean, stupid or crazy. The disposed of is at sea. He doesn’t know an considered as safe to reopen to the
apotheosis of this is the Everett obliging naval captain, but Stuart can public. What we found out subsequently
Dutschke case (the full grisly story here, get him access to an ornamental lake at - the truth - was that Martin Tasker had
https://www.gq.com/story/paul-kevin- Stixwould. Since he is scared of boats found these items some months before
curtis-elvis-impersonator-ricin- and water he then further enlists the he re-hid them because he wasn't able
assassinations) but the Americans muscular help of his wife [A queen to recover them himself. The items he
always go one step further than anyone among women!! Ed.] to row these reported to us, this box of six, were
else. Whether it is pensioners trying out rotting munitions into the middle of the items he knew were there as he'd
ricin on their fellow care home lake and throw the 10 shells overboard. already hidden them some months
residents (https://news.sky.com/story/ He reports the rest of the cache to the before. When the basic report was made
pensioner-admits-testing-homemade- police, and tells them that he’s worried it said: ‘I've been walking the woods,
poison-ricin-on-neighbours-at-us-care- because when he had a poke around he I've been looking for some stuff, but I
home-11152583) or a Japanese might have got something on him, found these. I've got some chemical
polymath making enriched uranium at which could kill him. The police call burns. I'm a little bit concerned. Can
home (https://www.asiaone.com/world/ explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), you take a look?’
japanese-teen-suspected-trading- remove the shells and start to wonder “Whether he returned the canister to
uranium) the trappings of a ‘super whether Martin Tasker’s frequently the location where it had originally been
villain’ are rarely present. More likely a voiced health concerns might be hiding found is questionable, I don't think the
CBRN case involves someone who has something more serious… point from which EOD took that box on
really not thought the matter through Chief Inspector Vickers who was 1 October was the actual location where
very well. That's not to say they aren’t involved in the Tasker case explained he’d recovered it. I've got no concerns
dangerous. Poor health and safety is as how the investigation started. “Martin about the way that EOD dealt with it. It's
likely to kill someone as a perfectly made contact on the morning of Sunday exactly what we would expect and even
functioning device, just that often their 1 October, 2017. He contacted us to with the benefit of hindsight, they
plans leave a lot to be desired. report that he'd found some items in weren't to know that.”
I would suggest that the recent Woodhall Spa the Saturday before and Had Martin Tasker managed to hold
Woodhall Spa case (https://www. that he was suffering chemical burns as his nerve this might have been where
lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local- a result of the contact that he had there. he either turned a profit, or sold on the
news/two-men-woman-admit-dumping- This was treated as a fairly standard mustard to individuals with an
3313662) fits into this mould. Loosely police incident. People do find ideological motivation. Instead some of
Martin Tasker is an interested collector, chemicals and old munitions at the things that he read about mustard
he likes both militaria and Victorian different times and that was dealt with injuries starts to gnaw at him or his
bottles and has friends that share those by RAF bomb disposal who came along wife, who to be fair had handled these
interests. While out in local woods Mr and disposed of a metal box that he'd munitions more than Mr Tasker! Chief
Tasker either looks for, or chances upon, identified at the location. Inspector Vickers takes up the narrative.
a cache of shells. He then moves them “The matter was dealt with in “He made further contact with us. He
from one location to another and enlists isolation. It didn’t raise an eyebrow and stated that he'd found these items on a
the strength of his wife to help get half would be perfectly normal as there's Saturday, made contact with us on
of them into his car. He next takes them still a fair quantity of spent munitions Sunday and said: ‘Look: we've got some
to a friend, Stuart Holmes’, house to lying around, cartridge cases and slight chemical burns’. He made further
work out exactly what they are and find various bits of old munitions because of contact with us on the Monday and
out what can be done with them. He the way it was used during the second stated that he and his wife were
then finds out that buried, 70 year old world war. The EOD team disposed of showing signs of exposure to mustard
munitions leak, and both he and his five intact canisters, one damaged gas, some blistering on the skin and
wife get a series of chemical burns. This canister and a box that had slots for 10 potentially some breathing difficulties
is not a good thing. canisters. Also, three clay pots were and then made further contact with us

CBRNeWORLD
on the Tuesday. Around about mid-day a maximum of 24 hours. He’s in custody account that won’t corroborate what
on the Tuesday, I got a call from our from the Tuesday evening and his wife he's saying. After more than 22 hours in
control room inspector to say, I'm not Michaela is arrested at 18.45 on custody, he provides what we believe to
comfortable with what Martin Tasker is Wednesday 4 October for the same be a true account.”
telling us. The story doesn't quite fit offence, possession of a noxious Meanwhile Stuart Holmes, the third
together. He's telling us something substance. Towards the end of his period individual, is brought in following Mr
maybe slightly different to the original in custody, he is told: Tasker’s testimony, He is the person the
explanation or our original ‘Your wife has now been police know the Taskers went to.
understanding of it. Could I review it? This brings up four scenes
“My considered view was that there that are of interest,
is something more to this, it is a Roughton Moor
reasonable possibility that we've not Wood
been told the full story and it is not
clear to me why somebody would not
have done so. That prompted me to
think that we've got something that is
far more significant. Within half an
hour of opening up and reading the
log, I declared it a major incident and
made our chief officers aware, and it
became a joint response from the
agencies involved.”
Eventually it becomes a significant
joint response with 27 different agencies
taking part due to the complexity of the
case, but in early October 2017 that is
not something that Chief Inspector
Vickers could have foretold. Mr Tasker’s
story is not holding up to any scrutiny,
but at the same time he is not admitting
anything. It is only when his wife gets
taken into custody, too, that he realises
things might start to unravel fast.
“Martin Tasker was arrested on
suspicion of possession of a noxious
substance just before 22:00 on Tuesday
3 October, the same day I named it a
major incident. He's treated as a
witness, but the account that he's
giving doesn't fit with some
information that we know to Stolen mustard shells and
be true and the things that don't know what to do with
we believe. To protect him, his them? Get your wife to
status changes from witness to chuck them in a lake!
suspect and so he's arrested that ©Royal Navy
evening. What's ramping up the
risk for me is that I don't believe
we're being given a full and honest
account, but I don't understand why. I
need to identify his reason for not
giving us an honest account at the
earliest opportunity and why his arrested
account changes ever so slightly. and she's
“He doesn't give us that single line being brought into
that opens it all up and explains it to us. custody’. He knows he
In normal circumstances for that hasn't given us a full account, and that
offence, he would be kept in custody for his wife will come in and provide an

CBRNeWORLD
Spa treatment
[At Woodhall Spa Ed.], the Taskers’ protection against mustard agent, and thousand of pounds worth of kit that
home, Stuart Holmes’ house and also a CBRN suits offer little comfort for couldn't be used again if the water was
nearby lake. Tasker’s testimony and a diving or indeed protection once they contaminated. Anglian Water [local
policeman’s ‘nose’ suggested that maybe get saturated. The fragility of the shells water board, Ed.] was involved because
there were more shells than the ones meant that mechanical retrieval might of concerns that if there was
EOD dealt with, as Chief Inspector release the agent into the lake, which contaminated water it could seep into
Vickers explained. “On the Tuesday, one could then get into water courses. the public supply. Relatively early it was
of the possibilities from reading Mustard, as has been seen in Iraq, is a identified that there was little to no risk
between the lines was there were powerful carcinogen, and the localised of any water supply contamination as
additional canisters that had not been impact of such a spill could have a the lake was not linked to any other
uncovered, and that the lake at negative effect on the nearby water course. We’d already examined
Stixwould was potentially a deposition community. The response now took on the possibility of having to remove the
site. But it was equally possible that a significant multi-agency approach, as water and worked out the number of
these missing canisters were at the Chief Inspector Vickers explained. tankers that would be needed and how
home address. I had no strong view as “This was the first time that the RAF, to disposal of that water.
to where the missing 10 canisters were, navy and army bomb disposal teams “We took advice from the Defence
but in addition to the home and the lake worked together in peacetime in a Science and Technology Laboratory
there was the possibility, since the civilian response. Subsequently they (DSTL) Porton Down, who wanted five
Tuesday, that these canisters had gone would all work together as part of the samples, four from the lake itself and
elsewhere, to an unidentified third party Salisbury response, so it was not a bad one from the nearest alternative water
and were not at one of the locations I dry run. The water in the lake had to be supply. Those five samples had to be
was taking into account. considered as potentially contaminated treated as if they were contaminated.
“That bit made me uncomfortable. and they had to put together a method We had no standard operating
We knew Martin Tasker wasn't providing of diving and recovering items, which procedure for moving contaminated
us with a full and honest account, and should be considered potentially very water, so I offered one of our cars, with
even though he gave us what fragile. Simply touching them might an armoured gun box in the back, that
subsequently turned out, I think, to be a cause them damage. A safe method of the samples could occupy while being
relatively full account, we weren't to working had to be developed, as they driven to Porton Down. At this point
know that. The possibility that the hadn't done it before. They did some the National Police Air Service stepped
canisters had gone to a third party and tests using the canisters that had been in, advising that they were satisfied
were in another location was making recovered from the woods, did some they could move them because of the
me and the other partners tests against their dive suits and urgency in getting the samples tested.
uncomfortable. The possibility of a identified the risk of mustard burning We therefore flew them to Porton
canister being released maliciously in a through the dive suit. As it wasn't clear Down and got those test results back,
public place wasn't unrealistic There at what point the suits offered no which said that none of the samples
might be some other use for those protection they ended up double suiting, showed signs of contamination.
canisters, and that thought preyed with an outer suit that was effectively Because the water was silty, however,
heavily on the actions we would take to disposable and an inner suit that was contamination could be relatively
confirm their location.” their normal working equipment. This localised, so if one canister was
Mrs Tasker provided a full account of double suiting hadn't been done before damaged, it could just be that the
what she had done with the shells, and in this environment, so how do you contamination was in the water
that now raised another challenge. locate some extra-large dive suits that immediately around it. There was a
Lincolnshire police had to ascertain that might offer a degree of protection? whole load of challenges, but my
there were ten shells in Stixwould Lake, “I really want to emphasise the nightmare would have been if the
and remove them for destruction. The support the Environment Agency gave sonar equipment had identified
fact that the Taskers had mustard burns as they are interested in whether or not anything less than 10 canisters. The
confirmed that some, or all of these water or land is contaminated. They whole incident would then have taken
munitions were leaking, and their age said: ‘We do fish survey work, and have a very different turn.”
also meant that the metal could be sonar equipment immediately available With the retrieval of the shells the
brittle. Who knew what impact being that could be deployed into the lake’. story is pretty much over. The Taskers
chucked into a lake could have on They provided a boat and the sonar, and and Holmes pleaded guilty to
them? Mustard agent is also heavier the location of all ten canisters was possession of a chemical weapon and
than water, so unless you sampled right identified, which saved the dive team a breaching environmental protection
next to the shell you would not have a prolonged period of searching in the laws by causing the discharge of
clear idea of the concentration of water. The agency offered their mustard gas into Stixwould Lake.
contamination. equipment and immediately accepted Martin Tasker also pleaded not guilty to
Dive suits and gloves offer little that potentially there was a hundred two charges relating to firearms

CBRNeWORLD
Spa treatment
The biggest concern was tracking down all ten munitions, and making sure that some of them
weren't in the hands of nefarious individuals ©Royal Navy
offences and will appear in Court information and intelligence and the significant was happening. But once
during early 20201. structures we put in place. A lesson they'd been told what we were doing,
What, then, does Chief Inspector learned would be that the value of doing and why, and how we were doing it, that
Vickers feel were the lessons learned that and preparing that kind of made a real difference.”
from Op Saddleback for the force and structure in advance, really paid As usual, real cases involving CBRN
other agencies involved? “Lincolnshire dividends. The priority throughout was agents never look like the ones that
police has close relationships with its the safety of the local community and people exercise. I’d go out on a limb and
emergency planning partners, and the the responders, which never changed. say that most CBRN incidents are not
RAF in particular, being a military We are a small regional force with good acts of terrorism, often they are
county. Twice a year we’ll have an relationships with our local attempted murder, extortion or
exercise around an aircraft coming communities and that was really something inexplicable, but rarely do
down and the potential contamination important to me. they fit the template in which numerous
that might come from it. I was grateful During the investigation we didn’t assets deploy to a smoking crater. The
to the Environment Agency, but it have a press conference so much as a Woodhall Spa event was one of those
didn't surprise me as we already knew community meeting. Subtle difference, occasions that sees a wide variety of
each other and there was a very but a community meeting is where we agencies pulled together to deal with
positive environment. Those explain to the local community what what could have been a potentially
relationships that had built up in we've been doing and invite the press serious incident. The challenge for
peacetime, proved to be particularly along. We filled a local hotel’s largest Lincolnshire, and the National CBRN
valuable when they were tested. conference room and then we had to Centre, is to ensure that all the lessons
“We had 27 different agencies repeat it because so many of the learned get captured so that when the
involved, everything from charities residents wanted to come along. They next variation on the theme arises there
through to local historians: a whole knew we were working, they knew roads is a degree of corporate understanding of
number of different sources of had been closed and that something what has been available previously.
1
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-49681845

Zoe Rutherford stands on the shoulders of giants
CBRNeWORLD
to get a look at what happened in Convergence 2019!
Titan Up!
T
here was another new stop on the workshop comprised instructional and Pre-conference day wound up with
CBRNe Convergence tour in 2019, practical sessions held across two an icebreaker reception in another
in the form of that magical place locations, the Nissan Stadium and the distinctive venue and a very special
known as Music City, none other than EOD Gear centre. The point of it was to guest performer. At 7pm everyone
the amazing Nashville, Tennessee, and provide an insight into the work the headed over to Little Harpeth Brewing
another unique venue in the form of the WECTU team undertake, the practices to enjoy some local craft beer and strut
Nissan Stadium. Admittedly this year’s they use, and how delegates may be able their stuff on the dance floor to none
show started off a little bumpy for the to incorporate some of this into their other than Jack Pearson, famous
Convergence team, with fuel being own activities. The EOD section guitarist and former member of The
dumped, planes turned back, and provided more insight into how easily Allman Brothers Band. It was great to
unscheduled overnights in random US improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and see so many people at an icebreaker
cities. Thankfully, however, our months homemade explosives can be produced event, and everyone looked like they
of planning paid off, and eventually we and what forms they can take. The were having a great time.
all made it to Nashville. WECTU team were again very well Suddenly day one was upon us and it
We changed up a little more than received, as they were in Orlando last was time to staff the registration desk
just the venue this year and kicked off year. Feedback on their workshop and greet everyone at the Nissan
Convergence with a special, two part, included: “The WECTU team were great, Stadium. Despite DHS security
pre-conference workshop on 5 both because the substance of what was clearance causing some queues,
November. Due to popular demand we presented was fascinating, and because delegates and exhibitors strolled in
invited the team from the Welsh the presenters were extremely looking happy to be in such a distinctive
Extremism and Counterterrorism Unit charismatic,” and, “Excellent, very venue. Security also left the doors to the
(WECTU) to hold an extended workshop, instructive”. We couldn’t agree more and upper tiers open so that delegates could
in conjunction with EOD Gear. The look forward to working with WECTU go out and take in the view of the
again in the future. Tennessee Titans home field. It was an
impressive view, and not only because
the sun was shining! What’s more,
delegates had a nice place to sit and
The weather gods were kind to us

on two out of three days... but
showed their wrath on the third!
©CBRNe World

CBRNeWORLD
Titan Up!
enjoy the warmth, the view, and for management (PRISM) decontamination on tv that it was a huge response, but
those with work calls and emails to fit exercise. The decon portion could have seeing a list of the type and number of
in, a quiet place to do so. done without the fire hoses as it was government and local agencies,
As is customary, day one began with already raining hard! involved elicited a few hushed wow’s
a plenary session which offered speakers Nonetheless, the teams from the from the audience. Other points of
from the Singapore Civil Defence Force, Nashville fire department, Nashville fire interest that earned hushed chatter
US Northern Command, US Army special operations, metro Nashville from the audience were the challenges
Combat Capabilities Development police department, FBI and Federal faced, raised by Nick Spence. These
Command, Nashville fire department, Emergency Management Agency included secure comms issues,
and the FBI WMD directorate. After the (FEMA), braved the cold, wet, windy protracted staff deployments, PPE
plenary session and a coffee break, both conditions. They ploughed on through availability, and problems with fall-back
sponsored by First Line Technologies with a great demo for everyone, who felt sites. Nick raised some pertinent issues
delegates headed off into their chosen almighty sorry for the poor volunteers that first responders did not readily
streams of presentations. The first two who had to strip to their underwear in have to face before Salisbury, but now
streams of the day covered national and the cold as we watched from inside - thanks to his presentation, there are
regional responses with speakers from bravo folks! Some of the comments we points to take back and raise when
Nashville, Tennessee, Wales, Las Vegas, later received were pretty great: “Nash contingency planning.
DC, and Texas, followed by a rather tasty FD did an excellent job”, “Demo on Nick Gent spoke next and ran
lunch sponsored by Zeteo Tech. With full Thursday was impressive”, “The live through the public health response. He
stomachs the delegates then made for demonstration was fantastic and covered important issues such as signs
their selections from the next set of provided some useful updates for my and symptoms of nerve agent exposure,
presentations, which covered homemade own organisation”, “View from above treatment, decontamination, and waste
and extremist WMD threats, response, (especially given the weather!) and management, focussing on the fact that
detection, and decontamination. narration was really well done”. the agent being dealt with in Salisbury
At 4pm it was time for a healthy dose Congratulations and thanks to everyone presented many challenges. These were
of coffee and a chance for everyone to involved, and special heartfelt thanks to related to the fact that it had not
look at this year’s posters and talk to the Larry Clymer and Mike Armistead, from previously been seen to be used in this
authors. We had some very interesting Nashville fire department, for their help way, but also the political impact and
submissions on diverse subjects such as across the whole event, for getting us to implications it raised. Nick Gent rounded
TPOXX for the treatment of smallpox, Nashville in the first place, and off the session with some very interesting
throwable sensors, decontamination supporting CBRNe Convergence every lessons learnt and points to consider
practices, the EU project ROCSAFE, and step of the way. when facing a possible nerve agent
rad’ interdiction to name just a few. This After the demonstration it was time incident, and received a huge round of
led us into the closing session for day for a hotly anticipated presentation, The applause at the end. Feedback on this
one, which covered the growing peril response to the Salisbury nerve agent session included: “The two Nicks from
posed by fentanyl, integrating the attack and lessons learnt, given by two the UK were awesome and memorable,”
Department of Defense (DOD) into people heavily involved in the event. and “The UK discussion of fourth
civilian response, and hybrid Nick Spence, compliance officer with generation nerve agent was especially
decontamination. At the end of a very the National Ambulance Resilience Unit informative”. Thank you from the
busy day, there was an opportunity for (NARU), and Dr Nick Gent, deputy head Convergence team to Nick and Nick for
everyone to have a few drinks, get to of Public Health England’s emergency joining us in Nashville and putting
know their fellow CBRN responders, and response department. The two Nicks, as together such an impressive presentation.
spend some quality time talking to some had taken to calling them, looked At this point the audience split in to
exhibitors and looking at their products. out over a packed auditorium and in streams once more, for presentations
Despite the length of the day, there was turn introduced themselves and on integrated response with talks by
a buzz in the air and plenty of folks presented their roles and Rapiscan and DTRA, and CBRN drones
stayed on to enjoy the drinks reception responsibilities both before and during with presentations from the Middlebury
sponsored by Cristanini. the Salisbury incident. Institute of International Studies and
After a good night’s rest, staff, The presentation began with the Zeteo Tech. Dr Philip Bleek, from the
delegates and exhibitors returned to the background to the incident, those Middlebury Institute, who joined us for
Nissan Stadium for the second and final affected and initial response, and went the first time this year commented: “I
day of this year’s Convergence. on to include the second incident, in was thrilled to recently attend my first
Unfortunately, the rather inclement nearby Amesbury three months later. CBRNe Convergence and I'll be back for
weather Nashville had been One thing that garnered interest from more. As someone who mostly works
experiencing re-emerged just in time those present was the sheer number of on broader policy issues, it was
for the WMD discovery, response, and high level agencies involved. Everyone especially useful to be able to engage
primary response incident scene naturally assumed from what they saw with more down-in-the-weeds

CBRNeWORLD
A great spread of speakers brought an interested audience to Nashville! ©CBRNe World
practitioners. I appreciated the mix of national microbiology laboratory. Positive feedback came from exhibitors
attendees from varying relevant There was now one last chance for with comments like: “Significant
professional backgrounds, with local, delegates to take in the exhibition hall number of exhibitors, well presented
state, federal, international and private before the final session of the day. We and interactive, excellent,” and “As an
sector entities all well represented. In extend a big ‘thank you’ to all the exhibitor I met good quality attendees”.
addition to being useful, the meeting sponsors and exhibitors who supported Another exhibitor said: “I am grading
was also a lot of fun.” us at this year’s Convergence. There was this as excellent from a vendor
The penultimate streams of the day much interest in joining us in Nashville, perspective as the CBRNe Convergence
began at 1.30pm and covered the topics and those who attended really put in the conference draws in such a wide
of building capability and practical effort with some great stands and audience of responders from all aspects
approaches to bio response. These outstanding products. We also had more of responder activities and from all parts
streams included some very interesting than one product launch at this year’s of the world”.
talks by the Philippine armed forces, event with both Mirion and FLIR giving With the end of the day fast
Decon 7, Biofire Defense, and Canada’s first looks at brand new equipment. approaching, delegates headed for the

CBRNeWORLD
Titan Up!
Message from the Editor

As Zoe outlined above, we got a lot
of positive praise for the event, but
the choice of venue did cause some
hassles. Current DHS safety
guidelines meant that individuals
need to be searched before they are
allowed in certain venues, such as
the Nissan Stadium, and the rain on
day two meant a number of sense of
humour failures for some. It also
meant that own food could not be
brought in. We choose the Nissan as
it is an iconic venue, close to
downtown Nashville and, compared
to venues like the Ryman affordable,
for the CBRN community. We had
hoped that these factors would
outweigh some of the negative
aspects of it – such as the security
and the need to use a massive
curtain to separate the main
auditorium. For some it did, and for
others it did not, and to the latter
group I apologise.
We have taken this criticism on
board, and will be holding 2020 and
2021 events at conference hotels,
which will be fit for purpose and
have easier ingress etc. We are
hoping to be back in Nashville in
2022, and with the expansion plans
that the city is going through hope
that something will be built which
Nashville Fire Department and FEMA put on an excellent demo, and more will combine affordability with
information on it can be found later in the magazine ©CBRNe World location and experience. A lot of the
positives that we took from
last two streams of the event, which collection of chemical threats. As always,
were the call for papers presentations. we are grateful to those who submitted Nashville we will be utilizing in
Once again we received high quality, and abstracts, and if you weren’t selected this Boston next year, so we will have
very interesting abstracts this year, year please don’t be put off submitting more in depth workshops and
making the choice of who should something for Convergence 2020. shorter days for exhibitors to ensure
present all the more difficult. In the end And that was it. At the end of the that everyone has the best
the panel arrived at a shortlist of six call for papers session Convergence was Convergence experience they can
presentations. These were: Consequence over for another year and it was time to have. Always willing to listen –
management of asymmetrical threats for pack up and head home. We received so gwyn.winfield@cbrneworld.net
first responders; Meeting DoD’s much positive feedback this year, that it
countering WMD needs through public- was hard not to let it go to our heads. attendees was informative and
private partnerships – a current success Comments included: “All of the speakers amazing!” But we also take on board
story; Hazard assessment of possible were outstanding. I couldn’t have hoped any negative feedback we receive and,
inherent chemicals present on for more professional presentations,” rest assured, will think about everything
firefighter gear; Mass casualty “The presenters provided excellent when working on our Boston 2020
decontamination research: what next?; experience and challenges to the benefit event. We look forward to seeing you all
Venue protection from a CBRNE lens…; of all CBRNe Personnel,” and “Excellent next November, so be sure to checking
Integration in practice, not just on conference. The variety of experiences out the website regularly for
paper; and COTS products for the from national and international information on what we are planning.

Captain Chris Miller, operations officer for the British army’s
CBRNeWORLD
Falcon Squadron talks to Gwyn Winfield about how operations and planned
improvements are making it a stronger force
Falcon’s crest
CGW: Falcon Squadron came out of a which hadn't previously been conducted into three subunits within the
rethink of British army roles in CBRN on that scope. For example in 2019 we regiment, providing three identical
in 2014, and from then on it coexisted deployed to BATUS as part of 20 Brigade, combat teams that can support each of
alongside the CBRN Wing (26 & 27 and redeployed with the Queen's Royal the three armoured infantry brigades
Squadron RAF Regiment). The big Hussars battlegroup and the First Royal within Third Division.
change since then is the transfer of Regiment of Fusiliers battlegroup. We
CBRN authority from the RAF to the provided each of them with an organic GW: Just the amount of assets that
army and the standing up of 28 troop of Fuchs and a counter-CBRN Third Division [the only UK division at
Engineer Regiment. Can you give an recce capability. They exercised for 38 continual operational readiness]
overview of where Falcon is now and days in a complex war fighting scenario possesses means that you are stretched
where you hope it's going to be in the that included both use of conventional thin even if you just do the
next six to 18 months? CW and the existence of organic TIC and conventional combat support role. Will
CM: After Falcon's re-establishment in TIM threats in the complex and you be able to do the special site
2014 it was decided that there was an congested battle space environment. exploitation, or other specialist tasks
ideal opportunity for us to re-imagine That's brought the squadron to a you've trained for? How are you going
the squadron's focus and direction in good place, in terms of its focus and to prioritise? Is the mission supporting
the wake of modern threats, as opposed raison d'etre. We're now looking at what Three Div and anything else is a
to legacy threats, under which the Joint we do going forward. Thanks to bonus? Are you able to shift as the
CBRN Regiment had operated. The deployment on Exercise Toxic Path, larger mission demands it, and exploit
squadron was re-established as a two alongside the French CBRN contingent this critical site, and Three Div’s just
troop squadron and the two main in support of Nato, we deployed as a going to have to look after itself?
components were to conduct mounted multi-functional CBRN company. The CM: Any scenario that would require
CBRN reconnaissance. Each troop idea of a mass mounted deployment in the deployment of Third Division
comprised a C2 element in a non-colpro the current CBRN role is probably not elements going forward will see us
(collective protection) vehicle, the best use of that capability and what landing at the point of theatre entry
effectively able to plug into we need is the complementary skill sets and looking to help establish and
headquarters and provide specialist and capabilities of the other counter- secure aerial points of debarkation
advice, while also being able to provide CBRN specialists within the UK Ministry (APODs), and the areas we require to
a command and control function for the of Defence (MoD). That deployment sustain a deployment. Initially we’d be
recce vehicles themselves. Each troop, looked like a C2 node at subunit level, looking at in-theatre legacy risk,
with its actual recce elements, was split and could have been provided by any especially in the areas we need to
into two sections of two Fuchs vehicles. one of the current CBRN subunit secure for the long term. As operations
Maintaining that minimum commanders. On that occasion it was build up in tempo, we look to move
currency of a pair of vehicles, able to Falcon, who deployed a troop of Fuchs forward into the aggressive and shaping
conduct taskings, are the tactics, with its own troop C2, and its own and enabling sphere, and support the
techniques and procedures that our vehicles including decontamination at field forces as they go forward, having
squadron was based on at the time. We organic level. They also took with them done some of that earlier preparatory
went forward with that, and after re- a troop of light role team (LRT) work. It's very much threat dependent.
establishing ourselves from initial reconnaissance and exploitation team We could be used as a follow-on force
operating capacity (IOC) in 2015, we (RET), and alongside them a biological behind the fighting echelon, to exploit
reinvigorated that capability through to surveillance and collector system items at sites of interest, or that could
full operational capacity (FOC) in 2016. (BSCS) and mass decon. be balanced by protecting the force
Since reaching FOC in 2016 the The CBRN subunit might train and against the use of conventional CW. It’ll
squadron’s focus has been integration organise for an in-camp role, evolve as the scenario develops.
into field army and the army readiness concentrating to provide maximum
order, to provide an end user product training effect but for deployment it GW: When you go back into Joint CBRN
for troops expecting to deploy forwards. looks very much more likely we would Regiment days, Iraq and Afghan
What does that actually look like? It deploy as part of a pan-capability operations, CBRN was dominated by the
looks like training to be able to deploy subunit. With the establishment of 28 LRT mindset – man-portable capability.
capability alongside field army elements, Engineer, that can now be broken down Have Ghouta and Syrian attacks forced

CBRNeWORLD
Falcon’s crest
Falcon Squadron is ready for whatever mission 28 Engineer throws its way ©CBRNe World
big army to realise that you need to do then conduct roles in the way that it CM: Some very good work has been done
that under armour and probably as was done in Afghanistan and Iraq. on understanding the threat picture, and
some form of battle group? Is this an recognising what we are likely to face
independent UK strategy, or has it been GW: As 28 Engineer starts to find its and can resource sustainably. That work
entirely driven by circumstances? feet can you see your role being revised, has been incredibly well done at Army
CM: I'd compare it to the first Gulf war. or do you think it is set in concrete and Headquarters and enabled the creation of
What you had there was all the players in 28 will have to build on that? 28 Engineers. I don’t think it will be very
the counter-CBRN sphere deployed to CM: We exist to do what's required by long until we have a foot in the door of
support various elements. You had Fuchs the end-user. At the moment our role is each of those capabilities. Currently, you
forward, first of all with the Royal quite clear-cut, with Falcon Squadron’s have an engineer regiment with one
Yeomanry then with other cap badges raison d'etre being to support Third UK subunit at FOC, one which is achieving
later on, supporting the fighting Division deployed overseas in a its IOC, at the moment, looking to be
armoured divisions as they went forward. conventional warfighting role. That FOC in the near future, and the desire
Later in Iraq and Afghanistan you still doesn't detract from any of the other for another CBRN subunit, with reserves
saw guys deployed, but as the situation tasks that we could do to create more to supplement that.
became static and focused in its specialist task forces for different What's also important is the
geographical area, the utility of the LRT scenarios. Our primary focus, and that outreach work that 28 Engineers has
came through. That was very specific to of Third Division, is the conventional been doing. Falcon has been doing that
Iraq 2003 and Afghanistan and was much warfighting space. for quite some time now as the only real
more concentrated in its scope. land component in counter-CBRN, and
It's very easy to flick from the large GW: In the old Nato Response Force going out to the field army, particularly
scale manoeuvre down into the smaller rotations the UK could always be relied the units of Third Armoured, Third UK
sphere. We continue to train for the upon for some of the specialist Division, and helping them to
large scale, supporting conventional capability, such as bio detection. Now understand the threat they face. There
forces on operations, knowing that that we have done away with our has been a corporate lack of knowledge
when required, it's easier for us to step integrated biological detection system that has developed over time as the
into another role. Our assessment is we (IBDS) and part replaced the capability threat was reduced. Reinvigorating that
would probably see ourselves deployed with BSCS, can you see the UK knowledge is necessary, getting people
in the conventional warfighting starting to flex back into some of those to question assumptions about how they
scenario, with the ability to manage niche areas? That would represent a act in the face of the CBRN threat, so
that presence over a period of time, and big change for British forces… that the field forces are better protected,

Accurate. Dependable.
Solutions for chemical identification and radiation
detection and identification.
When it comes to the detection and identification of radioactive materials,
chemicals, or explosive threats, ensuring that on-site teams are properly
equipped requires a strategic approach. We are constantly working to protect
against these threats with advanced technology and innovative instruments
that offer real-time security threat detection and immediate results.
Find out more at thermofisher.com/cbrne

© 2019 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the
property of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and its subsidiaries. Please consult your local sales
representatives for details.
CBRNeWORLD
Falcon’s crest
and are not reliant upon specialists at the requirements for our Fuchs very rapidly, proved to us that the
every turn of the handle. We can be replacement vehicle. training and skills we have, regardless of
there to surge forward and deal with the There's quite a lot of scope on that the scenario, are very good.
most complex and precise of taskings, and it's not necessarily assuming a one-
but we know that we have brought for-one swap of the Fuchs platform with GW: In terms of lessons learned, are
along the rest of the team, to work and another platform. It's looking at other you reconsidering some of that chain
help themselves. ways, including emerging and innovative of custody, the evidence handling
technologies. Having someone in the piece, to see the force develop?
GW: As the army’s leading exponent fight is an ideal, and it's how we enable SIBCRA has been done for years, but
how do you take some of the experience that soldier to do more using emerging that's a very different skillset, just
and leadership and commoditise it for technologies. We've also been involved focussed on identifying a substance,
training? Can you go and talk with in Project Minerva1, which is looking at rather than recognising and preserving
Defence CBRN Centre (DCBRNC) in autonomous sense and hazard evidence. What have you taken from
Winterbourne and say: These are the surveying. We’re trying to understand that to be able to identify opportunities
sort of modules, and we need to provide how, as the people who are doing this or work for improvement?
them to these levels of specialists. role at reach, what technologies can be CM: That's very much part of this
CM: That is a good question and the used and how we can see that being multifunctional CBRN subunit that we
work's already happening. DCBRNC has developed alongside industry. see going forward. While it would be
moved into the land domain, taken a very easy to set the requirement for all
look, done its estimate, and decided GW: Will a Fuchs-esque capability levels of CBRN specialists to be trained
what it has to do to support the land remain the same, that you’ll still need in all the skillsets, in fact, you can
force, besides its traditional role of a protected platform capable of almost overtrain and create too great a
providing CBRN instructors to go back traversing the traditional battlefield? burden on each niche component. What
into formations. What you are seeing Or can you see that kinetic threat you'll probably see in future is that the
now is specialist training flights created environment being dealt with by a mounted capability will continue to
from DCBRNC embedded permanently Minerva-style solution with the rest of provide freedom of manoeuvre for field
and geographically alongside the it done by a dismounted element? army units and formations. With its
specialists of 28 Engineer. We have CM: Nothing is set in stone as to how integral SIBCRA support they'll be able
individuals from the specialist training the capability will look going forward, to conduct that activity in the
flight here in Falcon today. As but my interpretation is that we'll see traditional way as part of the less
understanding of the role progresses, hybridisation. Much can be gained from armoured, less mobile, and probably
they’ll be able to see what extra can be remote autonomous technologies, but just behind the fighting echelon, to
done within their remit and scope to they also have their limitations and conduct that exploitation and maintain
boost that level of training. many of those limitations can be chain of evidence in a way we'd love to
bridged by the manned armoured see it done.
GW: Fuchs has been a long term capability. So you could potentially see
component of UK CBRN for the past a hybridisation of a number of mounted GW: Now that you have had a clear
20 years, how are you going to armoured platforms being used as base role in UK policing operations, is there
sustain it and how do you see that stations for autonomous or remote a need for a liaison officer at the
capability growing? technologies. We achieve the panoply of Police CBRN centre in Ryton or is that
CM: We've been very involved working capability, but in a portable and just too much?
alongside DSTL, DE&S and other modular fashion. CM: Police have their own structures
organisations, to look at the future of that work very well for them. What's
the counter-CBRN capability in a GW: Falcon was used heavily in recent key for UK plc is that 28 Engineer
mounted sphere, and also potential operations, what lessons learned has Regiment focuses on supporting field
future technologies. We're looking Falcon taken from that? army. We're already involved in several
forward to some of the products on the CM: Some of the key lessons from projects and existing operations to
Fuchs Sustain project, when that recent operations, such as Salisbury and support the UK home base and work is
begins at the start of July, 2020, so we Operation Morlop, is how capable and being done on how we would integrate
can manage some of the equipment ready we are for threats that are beyond with them, the support we can provide
until Fuchs's projected end of service what would be assumed to be outside of and what support they would like from
date in the late 2020s. We're also very our core and established warfighting us. We look for police primacy in all
much involved in the ongoing work on role. The squadron’s ability to deploy en areas, but whenever needed, we can
Abrasol, which is an understanding and masse in a very short timeframe, and absolutely provide support as we
development project to codify and set sustain, equip, and conduct operations demonstrated on operation Morlop.
1
https://www.contracts.mod.uk/do-features-and-articles/project-minerva-chemical-detection-with-drones/

NEW
UDR and RadEye ™
Simulators
Realistically simulate:
• Dose and Dose Rate
• High hazard and lethal doses
• Inverse square law (1/r2)
• Shielding effects of glass, wood,
concrete, brick etc.
• Human interface
• Audio, visual and vibrate alarms.
Perfect for teaching:
• Search / recon
• Dose management
• Safety demarcation
• Instrument use
Compatible with:
• PlumeSIM and our wide range of
survey simulators.
Based upon our latest generation Gamma /

radionuclide simulation technology and with
support from Mirion and Thermofisher, radiological
search and survey training is now as lifelike as it
gets! Contact us now to learn how you can take your
CBRN exercises to the next level with our proven
CWA, HazMat and radiological training systems.
Visit us at CBRNe Europe 2020, Brno, Czech Republic

and SRP 2020 Bournemouth, UK.
T (UK): +44 (0)1582 491616 | (USA) 1 571 210 1258 (AM EST)
www.argonelectronics.com | info@argonelectronics.com
CBRNe World Jakarta

4-6 March 2020
in association with HLS Indonesia
Speakers from:
– Indonesian National Police KBR Unit
– National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN)
– Joint Programme Executive Office for CBRN
Defence (US)
– National Anti-Narcotics Agency (BNN)
– Singapore Civil Defence Force
– Indonesian Army
– Defence Threat Reduction Agency (US)
A two day CBRN conference and

exhibition hosted inside HLS Indonesia.
Indonesia is one of the fastest growing areas
for CBRN defence in South East Asia.
They have faced numerous CBR attacks and
plots over the past five years, and with the
problem of returning jihadis this is not
likely to stop any time soon. Attendance
to the conference is FREE!
More information on
https://cbrneworld.com/events/
cbrne-world-jakarta
and www.hlsindonesia.com
Day One – 5th March Day Two

09.00 – Desman Tarigan, Commander CBRN Unit, 09.00 – TBC, Indonesian Army
Indonesian Police 09.30 – Gwyn Winfield, Editorial Director,
09.30 – Michael Chua, Director HazMat Department, CBRNe World
Singapore Civil Defence Force 10.00 – Ed Lawson, Director of Integration,
10.00 – David Musgrave, Director, On-Site Inspection and Joint Program Executive Office for CBRN Defence
Building Capacity Directorate, Defense Threat Reduction 10.30 – Iain Findlay, Director CRF-I,
Agency on behalf of Cristanini
10.30 – Matt Scullion, VP of Sales and Marketing, 11.00 – Break
BioFire Defense 11.30 – Jason Krause, Associate Director,
11.00 – Break Operations and Plans, Louisiana State University
11.30 – Eric Damiens, Marketing and Sales Director, 12.00 – TBC, BATAN
Proengin 12.30 – Angela Bench Weiber, Sales Manager, Blucher.
12.00 – TBC BNN 13.00 – Break
12.30 – David Spada, Senior Manager Business 14.00 – Timo Paaki, Chief Sales Officer, Observis Oy
Development, Rapiscan Systems 14.30 – TBC
13.00 – Break
14.00 – Samantha Ollerton, CEO, Greyscan Australia PCE
14.30 – Bobby Baker, Senior Training Specialist Counter
Terrorism Operations Support Group, NNSA
15.00 – 16.00 – CBRN Demonstration
Platinum Sponsor
BioFire Defense
At BioFire Defense we deliver a fully integrated suite of biological agent identification
products, including the FilmArray, and RAZOR EX Systems to the biodefense and first
responder community. Known for its history of releasing innovative instruments, BioFire
Defense produced the first ruggedized PCR-based instrument in 1999, making possible lab
quality results in the field. Our systems are able to identify dozens of the most lethal
viruses and bacteria, including emerging infectious diseases. The easy-to-use, syringe-loaded
system represents the next generation in automated detection systems.
Gold Sponsor
Proengin
Proengin develops and manufactures biological and chemical warfare agents field detectors
using flame spectrometry: AP4C-handheld chemical detector for CWA, TICS and NTAs,
AP4C-V aboard wheeled, tracked, Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) and Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAV) reconnaissance vehicles, AP4C-F for critical buildings and ships, MAB-for
biological alarm, AP4C-VB and AP4C-FB for simultaneous Chemical and Biological
detection. Please visit us at www.proenginusa.com or www.proengin.com.
Silver Sponsors
Cristanini
Since 1972, Cristanini has been creating and manufacturing innovative top-quality solutions
that, today, enjoy a widespread appreciation and worldwide recognition.
Cristanini extensive product range for civil/industrial, military and fire-fighting sectors
reaches unprecedented technological sophistication and adaptability.
Cristanini systems are reliable, ruggedized and simple. Cristanini is NATO constructor
A5009 since 1987, it has ISO 9001:2015 company quality system and, above all, is AQAP 2110 product quality certified.
Silver Sponsors
Emergent BioSolutions
Emergent BioSolutions is a global life sciences company that develops and manufactures medical
countermeasures for civilian and military populations that address accidental, deliberate, and naturally
occurring public health threats. Our products target biological and chemical threats, as well as emerging
infectious diseases.
For over 20 years, Emergent has focused on a singular mission – to protect and enhance life. Emergent
has extensive experience in working in partnership with governments worldwide to develop, manufacture, and deliver vaccines,
therapeutics, and devices against CBRN threats. Emergent celebrates the talent, drive, and innovation that have shaped its growth and
continued vision to improve the quality of life for millions of individuals around the world.
GreyScan
GreyScan is a world class and first to market, innovator and manufacturer of advanced detection
tools designed to target a variety of materials including the full range of inorganic explosives
materials. GreyScan’s mission is simple – to provide ground breaking analytical tools that minimise
risk and maximise detection capability, providing peace of mind in any application.
Observis
Observis is a developer and supplier of comprehensive situational awareness systems for mission
critical CBRNe, environmental and industrial monitoring. We have extensive experience in
delivering solutions to, for example armoured and light reconnaissance vehicles and critical
infrastructure applications.
Our core competitive edge is the seamless system integration. The solutions we deliver are fully
scalable as well as platform and hardware independent. This enables us to offer our customers the
freedom to select the most suitable components meeting their operational requirements.
The systems we deliver are built on our ObSAS system software. It is the platform which we can adapt for virtually any application
requiring uncluttered visualization of critical data.
Rapiscan Systems
When your operation must be economical, compliant and, above all, effective, you need a proven
company that is driven by innovation and backed by a global support network. A company like Rapiscan
Systems.
Rapiscan Systems state-of-the-art products, solutions and services meet the most demanding threat
detection needs at airports, border crossings, railway stations, seaports, government and military installations and high-risk facilities
around the world.
Rapiscan Systems has installed over 100,000 products in over 100 countries worldwide. Our experts will help find the perfect security
solution for your needs. The Rapiscan Systems trace explosives/narcotics detection and radiation detection portfolio of product are
designed to meet the needs of the CBRNE mission with the most up to date technology.
With a customer centric approach to security, a comprehensive product line for end-to-end solutions, and global expertise and
support capabilities, Rapiscan Systems is truly one company -- Total Security.
Bronze Sponsor
Blücher
Since its foundation in 1969, the Blücher group has maintained its high ethical and technological
standards. Blücher is the leading company in the development and production of adsorptive compound
materials for the protection against chemical and biological warfare agents. Blücher’s SARATOGA
technology is established in over 53 nations worldwide, including 22 out of 29 NATO states and the OPCW inspectors. To date, over
12.2 million SARATOGA protective suits have been delivered to customers all over the world.
Exhibitors
Environics has over 30 years of experience LSU NCBRT/Academy of Counter- Paul Boyé Technologies is one of the SEC Technologies is the only company that
in improving CBRN safety around the Terrorist Education is an internationally- worldwide leader in CBRN field and has developed a working battle-field
world with its in-house technologies and recognized center for counter-terrorism primary European manufacturers of proven active stand-off detector for
portable and fixed monitoring solutions. and CBRNE response training. Since 1993, uniforms, military equipment and security chemical and biological warfare agents.
Different organizations in over 50 LSU NCBRT/ACE has developed and equipment. Leader in research, This success motivates us, to invest
countries, from civil defence and homeland delivered training throughout the US and development, mass production of Personal further into R&D and bring innovative
security to the military, have already in over 90 nations, reaching half a million Protective Equipment (PPE), Paul Boyé solutions to our customer and in such a
selected Environics as their partner in participants. We provide training and Technologies offers a complete range of way contribute to safety and security of
CBRN threat detection. assistance in specialty law enforcement CBRN PPE to meet requirements of people around the globe.
operations, armed forces, civil defense, homeland
CBRNE security, health services and industries.
terrorism
response, and
complex
coordinated
attacks
management.
Ulviye Ersoy, Head of the National CBRN Working Group at Turkey’s Disaster
CBRNeWORLD
and Emergency Management Presidency, AFAD, answers our questions
An eye on the border

GW:When we last spoke two years ago GW: What are the current used this document to determine the
you said that there was a lot of priorities for improvement points that are open to development in
government interest/support for in AFAD CBRN? What is the field of chemical defence for our
AFAD’s role in CBRN defence. Is that the five-year plan? country, and the related actions have
still the case, and has that been UE: AFAD prepared the been determined, including the roles of
financial support/initiatives or is it just chemical defence strategy relevant institutions and organisations.
lip service? paper and action plan in The radiological and nuclear
UE: It is AFAD’s duty to determine what 2019. This action plan protection and defence strategy paper
CBRN activities are carried out and contains the general and action plan has also been drafted
what measures are taken regarding objectives, targets and and is expected to be approved in 2020.
CBRN, and ensure coordination between actions for In the next five years, AFAD aims to
institutions and organisations. In this chemical defence increase our response capacity in CBRN
context, the state’s greatest support for for our country and improve our training curriculum
CBRN is naturally given to AFAD. There for the five-year and standard procedures.
hasn’t been a major change in this period, 2019-
situation since AFAD was attached to 2023. In addition GW: How has integration with other
the ministry of interior with the the AFAD government departments, specifically
changes made in the state organisation. leadership has law enforcement and health developed?
©CBRNe World

CBRNeWORLD
Are you putting integrated teams so in our country. Almost every day, period, we have closely followed the
together throughout Turkey or just in our teams intervene in events developments at the border with our
developed centres? How are you involving dangerous chemicals. In CBRN teams and kept our scenarios
managing triage of samples and chain addition, we continue to work on ready for all kinds of situations.
of custody? biological and radiological hazards.
UE: Our cooperation with other Within the scope of this work we have GW: As Syria seems to be approaching
institutions on CBRN continues to prepared the national radiation something akin to an ‘end game’ do
increase. No matter how significant emergency plan, jointly with the you think that you will be able to
any institution’s capacity for managing Turkish atomic energy agency (TAEK), slightly relax your efforts on the
CBRN events is, it is not a business and in accordance with the approved southern border? What will AFAD’s
that a single organisation can do. It is plan, we organised a comprehensive roles be in the safe zone? Would you
vital to work in collaboration with field exercise in Iğdır province. need to be involved in incidents like
health units and law enforcement Although most of the duties and those at Azaz, if it had a non-
agencies, especially in cases where responsibilities related to biological conventional element?
people are affected and events have a hazards are with the ministry of health, UE: AFAD teams are on duty 24/7 for
judicial dimension. we continue to work in cooperation and any CBRN emergency on the Syrian
In the event of a judicial CBRN coordination with this ministry. border. Our teams have the necessary
event, the general directorate of security personal protective equipment, other
has a very important role at the scene. GW: Have the recent chemical suicides equipment and decontamination
Teams from the general directorate of in Turkey forced any changes in facilities. We also work in cooperation
security, supported by AFAD CBRN legislation on hazardous chemicals or with the Turkish armed forces.
teams, are responsible for ensuring the in response?
safety of the crime scene and its UE: Recently chemical substances, GW: Are you still planning to build
surroundings. This is in addition to especially cyanide compounds, have your own live agent training facility?
collecting evidence from the been used in many suicides in our What are your training priorities?
contaminated crime scene using country, and we know that these We are working to strengthen our
procedures and methods that are chemicals are ordered through the CBRN training capacity. In this context,
acceptable to the courts, without internet. As a result of a meeting with we plan to establish the necessary
disturbing the integrity of the crime related institutions and organisations, infrastructure for the implementation of
scene. It is extremely important to work on this issue, it was decided to ban the many scenarios for CBRN threats and
in cooperation because working in the sale of cyanide compounds to ordinary hazards in the training centre, which we
hot zone with protective equipment and citizens, through the revision of the are aiming to establish in our country.
collecting evidence from a regulations. Cyanide compounds have This centre will not only provide CBRN
contaminated crime scene according to been added to the list of restrictions on training opportunities, but also training
the appropriate procedures, are the the manufacture, supply and use of for many different types of disasters and
expertise of two different institutions. certain harmful substances, mixtures emergencies. The CBRN live agent
Turkey has also been working with and articles to prohibit public access to training centre is still under
Interpol in recent years collecting these compounds. It is expected that the consideration, but we have not yet taken
samples and evidence from regulation will be published in the any concrete steps. We know that due to
contaminated areas in CBRN official gazette in the coming days. the agreements to which we are a party,
incidents. AFAD and law enforcement it is very difficult to have real CBRN
officers are participating Interpol's GW: Have recent international events agents, even for educational purposes,
training in this field, which is caused an increase in concerns that and many legal procedures have to be
organised both in our country and forces in Syria might utilise chemical carried out for this purpose.
other countries. The collection of weapons/expertise against Turkey and Among our training priorities is the
samples for laboratory analysis, which AFAD forces? completion of a standardised education
are not accepted as forensic evidence, UE: The Syrian crisis that began in 2011 system that follows international
is carried out by AFAD. is the greatest humanitarian crisis since practices for CBRN training. Relevant
World War II. Unfortunately, civilians units are preparing studies on this
GW: Previously there was a heavy are the major victims of this crisis, in subject. We attach great importance to
focus on the chemical side of the one of the areas of international power training staff from relevant institutions
response, have you seen an increase in struggle. We can say that Turkey is in in the CBRN, field, especially AFAD,
the radiological and biological sides, or the first rank of countries most affected about their missions. We can also say
will they be dealt with by other by the crisis, as we host 3.6 million that we benefit from the resources of
government departments? Syrians. We have followed developments international organisations, well known
UE: In the main, CBRN events are and chemical attacks in the region since educational institutions, and other
inherently chemical events, and this is the beginning of the crisis, and over this countries for the training of personnel.

ABD - DEFENSE AD JUNE_1_2018.pdf 1 18-05-31 5:14 PM
LBM ISO-POD MALO AMG

AirBoss Low Burden Mask Individual Patient Isolation Moulded AirBoss CBRN AirBoss Moulded CBRN Glove
and Transportation System Lightweight Overboot
MCD SHELTER C420 PAPR M96 FR-C2A1 FLEXAIR

SYSTEM Military spec Powered Air AirBoss AirBoss Powered Air Purifying
Purifying Respirator system CW/TIC First- CW Military Respirator
Compact, portable, lightweight
fully NIOSH certified for the Responder Filter
fully integrated decontamination
most demanding environments Filter
system for ambulatory
and non-ambulatory
CBRN casualties
www.airbossofamerica.com/engineered-products/defense/home.php
CBRNeWORLD
GW: How is the integrated crisis are developing a common mind to help such as the International CBRN
management centre working? Has it overcome the new challenges and tests Congress. AFAD will work together with
been used in any incidents and have and to build capacity to deal with them. science platforms, professionals in the
you seen any benefits from it? We help our people to reach out to new field, the private sector and the ministry
UE: Our disaster and emergency centre experiences, both in the wider world and of health to deal with new phenomena
is active not only in CBRN but also in in our country through organisations that may arise.
other kinds of disasters and
emergencies on a 24/7 basis. Following
the receipt and evaluation of a
notification, the necessary resources are
directed to the scene. In the meantime,
we cooperate with all relevant
institutions and organisations. Our
centre which is specially designed for
Turkey's disaster response plan has only
ever been used for practices.
GW: What do you see as the major

challenges in the next three to five
years and how are you orientating
AFAD to deal with them?
UE: Unfortunately, CBRN agents are
often used as weapons in the region
near to Turkey and in some other parts
of the world, therefore, we have to
increase our capacity to protect our
civilians from these threats. We will
develop AFAD CBRN teams, training
them and providing them with advanced
skills and equipment on both a
quantitative and qualitative basis. The
subject of CBRN is also a basic factor
where advanced chemistry and
radiology technology is used, therefore,
the CBRN area will become more
challenging in terms of industrial
accidents in the coming years.
AFAD mostly encounters CBRN in
the context of industrial accidents in
Turkey. With the increasing use of CBRN
substances in advanced technologies, it
will be important to take steps and
develop the capacity to cope with this.
We will prioritise this issue, and increase
public awareness of CBRN accidents,
among the scientific community, the
private sector and other relevant
institutions. Occasionally, we encounter
accidents, such as mercury poisoning,
that result from damage to equipment in
school laboratories, so we are planning
activities for our children and young
people to increase their awareness of
CBRN. We also believe that it is helpful
to encourage the proper use of
equipment so as to reduce the likelihood
of CBRN accidents where possible. We CBRN continues to be a priority for the Turkish government ©CBRNe World

CBRNe Convergence
Westin Copley, Boston, Massachusetts
Nov. 2-4 2020
Platinum Sponsor
www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020
CBRNe December 2019 vChanges:CBRNe December 2019 vChanges 02/01/2020 10:34 Page 38
Platinum Sponsor
FLIR
FLIR is a leading supplier of field-ready products that accurately detect, classify, and identify critical
CBRNE threats. FLIR offers a variety of solutions including the following products:
• Fido X4 – premium handheld explosives trace detector (ETD) that delivers unmatched
sensitivity for a broad range of explosives at nanogram to sub-nanogram levels, so security teams
can easily detect threats, at levels other trace detectors can’t
• identiFINDER R425 - the next generation of the most deployed radionuclide identification device
(RID), offering a new 360-degree coverage cubic design for high performance in all directions
• MUVE C360 - multi-gas detector completely integrated with an unmanned aerial system (UAS)
to provide real-time continuous monitoring of chemical hazards while on the move
Gold Sponsors
CRISTANINI & ITL SOLUTIONS
CRISTANINI is a global leader in research and production of solutions for CBRN Decontamination.
With more than 40 years’ experience in developing decontamination systems, CRISTANINI excels at
reducing the logistic, training and operator burdens through innovative, modular and multi-functional
solutions for Defense and Civil Protection. Simple, Reliable…and Effective!
In the United States ITL Solutions is the Authorized Distributor for Cristanini products. ITL Solutions
a leader in Military, Industrial and Commercial Systems from CBRN Decontamination to Marine
Engineering. ITL Solutions is Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business ready to support today’s
requirements and tomorrow’s unknowns.
Silver Sponsors
ADS BIOFIRE DEFENSE
Cutting-edge equipment and At BioFire Defense we deliver a fully integrated suite of biological agent
training is critical when it comes to identification products, including the FilmArray, and RAZOR EX Systems to
CBRN Defense. ADS is the world’s the biodefense and first responder community. Known for its history of
premier equipment, procurement, releasing innovative instruments, BioFire Defense produced the first
and solutions specialist to the ruggedized PCR-based instrument in 1999, making possible lab quality results
military and defense industry. We in the field. Our systems are able
ensure mission safety, operational to identify dozens of the most
efficiency, and cost savings for our lethal viruses and bacteria, including
customers by partnering with emerging infectious diseases. The
leading manufacturers in CBRNE easy-to-use, syringe-loaded system
Defense. Our Purpose. represents the next generation in
Your Mission. automated detection systems.
FEDERAL RESOURCES FIRST LINE TECHNOLOGY

Federal Resources is a key provider of mission critical solutions for First Line Technology designs, manufactures, and supplies disaster preparedness
protection, detection and safety products for the DoD, Federal, State and local and response equipment like our medical ambulance bus (the AmbuBus), our
agencies. Offering total life-cycle solutions from procurement, training, PhaseCore Cooling Vests, and our line of decontamination equipment.
management and sustainment, Federal Resources continuously advances Our decon equipment includes FiberTect activated carbon dry decon, a three-
organization segments delivering the support needed for any mission faced by layer nonwoven composite substrate for CBRN Decontamination and
responders in the hotzone. Dahlgren Decon, an immediate, clearance level, non-corrosive, Decon solution
that neutralizes CWAS, TICS, TIMS,
and BIO in two minutes or less. We
work with first responders and the
military to develop innovative
products that make their jobs easer
and their lives safer.
Bronze Sponsor Exhibitors

Mirion Technologies Health Physics division provides Radiation Detection and 3M Scott Fire & Safety is a premier MX908 increases mission support with
Protection Instruments. Our organization is comprised of 1000 talented manufacturer of innovative safety devices unmatched flexibility and trace detection
professionals in total who are passionate about delivering world class for militaries, police, firefighters, rescue- power for responders in priority drug,
teams, and industrial workers worldwide. chemical, explosive and high-threat
products, services, and solutions for protecting people, property and the
The 3M Scott product line includes Self hazmat scenarios. Leveraging the power
environment. Mirion Technologies offers products and services from over a Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), of HPMS, MX908 lightens the overall
dozen facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia. supplied-air, air-purifying respirators, PPE, technology burden by displacing other
gas-detection instruments, and thermal- less selective technologies from the
imaging cameras. www.scottsafety.com. response toolkit.
CBRNe December 2019 vChanges:CBRNe December 2019 vChanges 02/01/2020 10:35 Page 39
Exhibitors
Argon will be displaying a wide variety of The world’s most innovative designer and For four generations, the Blauer family has Block develops products that protects
simulators for in service CBRN detection manufacturing of high pressure set the standard for public safety apparel in transportation, military bases and critical
equipment including the Smiths M4JCAD, compressors and purification systems. the United States. Through continuous infrastructure. Standoff Detection for
M4A1 JCAD and a wide variety of Bauers leading design technology, coupled innovation in materials, design, and Security & Environmental safety:
Canberra / Mirion radiological detection with stringent quality control produces engineering, working closely with those LaserWarn detects/identifies chemicals
simulator. Also on display will be unsurpassed portable, stationary and who use their products in the field, the across wide areas and PORTHOS can
PlumeSIM, our instrumented Live training mobile breathing air compressors systems Blauers have helped to ensure that those sense threat gases up to 5km away. Block
system used by many of the world’s that have been tested for safety and who protect their communities are was awarded over $13M from DARPA &
leading CBRN training facilities including reliability. You can be confident each breath protected on the streets. IARPA to develop detection systems for
Ft. Leonard Wood. of air is the purest. CBRNE that enables standoff Explosives
Trace Detection.
For more than 100 years, Dräger has The Gasmet DX4040 - advanced, easy-to- H3D offers the world's highest- LOKSAK manufactures CBRNSAK a
focused on one goal: human safety. By use, truly portable FTIR Gas Analyzer is performance imaging spectrometers. CBRNe Bag with a tamper evident and
working closely with military, civil forces, one of the most powerful instruments Quickly identifying and localizing gamma- tamper-proof seal. Our Patented
and Special Forces, we have learned about available for multi-gas analysis. Gasmet ray sources with a single measurement, Hermetic Seal, unparalleled in their
the dangers you face on a daily basis. provides IH/HAZMAT TEAMS a rapid and H3D is revolutionizing how measurements effectiveness and strength, guard deadly
Dräger solutions include respiratory accurate solution to identify and quantify are performed. collections for transport and storage.
protection, chemical protection suits, thousands of gases and vapors including Imagine a handheld detector with energy Keeps vapors in when used with our
portable gas detectors, diving equipment, TICs, CWAs, VOCs and acid gases at resolution near HPGe, but weighing five CBRNe Kits of three CBRNe bags, one
and NBC/CBRNe protection/detection. incident sites. pounds and able to startup in minutes. CBRNe bag within the other depending
This is the A400. H3D also offers on the degree of PEL needed for safety.
instruments developed with DOD DTRA.
Ludlum Measurements Inc has been NUVIA is presenting technologies designed ORTEC is a leading manufacturer of At Polo Custom Products we understand
designing, manufacturing and supplying to make the world safer, through instrumentation and solutions focused on the current acquisition challenges as a
radiation detection and measurement prevention and radiological surveys, doubt detecting and identifying Nuclear, result of budget reductions. As a Small
equipment in response to the world’s removal and radioprotection, search and Chemical, and Explosive threats. ORTEC’s Business our pride, quality commitment,
need for greater safety since 1962. identification of radioactive sources, strong commitment to hardware design diverse capabilities, competitive pricing and
Throughout its more than 5 decade contamination search and screening in for critical applications has earned their past performance in support of Joint DoD
history, it has developed radiation emergency situations. Products include products to be recognized as the “Gold requirements makes us a highly qualified
detection technologies and instruments in PORTAL D/P emergency portal monitors, Standard” for providing accurate candidate to assist the DoD in achieving
support of enhancing the safety of stand-off radiation detection system identification solutions to the difficult best value for our nation.
personnel and the environment. RADPORTAL, portable gamma challenges CBRNe missions face globally.
spectroscopy system RADSCOUT and
NuVISION gamma imaging camera.
QuickSilver provides sampling products Radiation Safety & Control Services, Inc. Used for identification and detection of Our next generation SMART Sensor
designed for safely and effectively sampling (RSCS) manufacturers the SIM-Teq line of illegal drugs, explosives and chemical Technology , on a single chip, detects and
suspected chemical and biological agents. radiation training equipment. SIM-Teq is a threats, our rugged family of products analyzes a range of chemical warfare
Our comprehensive kits contain all portable wireless training network of include the Rigaku ResQ and Rigaku ResQ agents and toxic industrial chemicals, with
components for taking, containing and simulated dosimeters, survey meters, CQL handheld 1064 nm Raman analysers. expansion for explosives, with accuracy
transporting samples in conformance with probes, and detectable radiation and Both instruments feature an expandable and no false alarms. The SMART Sensor
military standards. We continue to earn contamination sources. The system allows library, simple software, and advanced has been supported by DHS, DOE and
our reputation for unparalleled quality by the instructor to combine simulated features-including 4C Technology for Industry leaders into wearable handheld,
our commitment to producing worry free instrument auto-response with manual, automatic threat recipe alerts. and fixed-point chemical threat detection
sampling products. remote control capability. products.
Tetracore, Inc. is a biotechnology Tex-Shield is the exclusive U.S. licensee of Tracerco, part of Johnson Matthey PLC, Zeteo Tech have developed a revolutionary
company that offers highly innovative the SARATOGA chemical protective is a world leading industrial technology new class of fieldable bio mass
technologies for molecular and immuno- technology, “The most trusted name in company providing unique and specialized spectrometers. Our instruments identify
detection of biological warfare (BW) chemical protective clothing.” SARATOGA detection diagnostics and measurement airborne microbes, proteins and lipids, and
threat agents, veterinary diagnostics. garments are air permeable, adsorptive solutions. We offer an extensive range of can be used to screen for infectious
The wide range of our products includes systems designed to provide optimal portable radiation monitors (personal disease and other bio-threats.
field-portable tests and devices, lateral protection against chemical agents. dosimeters, contamination and dose rate
flow assays (LFA), dried down RT-PCR Tex-Shield’s products include the JSLIST monitors) for sale and hire, complete with
assays, LFA readers, real-time PCR device overgarment, HAMMER Suit, and the in-house testing and re-calibration services.
T-COR 8. JPACE flight coveralls.
CBRNeWORLD
The integrated protective fabric system team at US Army Natick
Soldier Systems Center talk to CBRNe World about finally providing low
burden and high protective ensembles
Finding
Closure
CW: How much of the integrated
protective fabric systems (IPFS1)
CW: When you looked at whole system
design did you discover new trade-offs
able to greatly reduce the thermal
burden. On a system level, you take that
programme was about new fabrics or that were unrealised in existing same approach and bring the garment
coatings and how much was it about ensembles or did it have to be new in so that it's more snug on the body
putting existing ensemble materials designs to generate benefits? and you're eliminating more air
together in a new way, utilising NP: Our major finding in terms of between the wearer and the garment,
concepts of torturous path etc? garment design and textile engineering not just between the layers of material.
Dr Natalie Pomerantz, research of state of the art materials, was that you Stretch material not only lowers the
chemical engineer, US Army Combat could achieve very high system level thermal burden dramatically and
Capabilities Development Command protection and a very low thermal increases the system level protection,
Soldier Center: IPFS started off looking burden with the same design and but it also reduces the bellows effect
at new substances but then branched material choice or engineering. [the drawing in and expelling of air
out into design changes and Previously it was thought that you could through the movement of the body. Ed].
engineering of the garment in order to only have a low thermal burden with a With a snug garment, you don't have
get system level properties. There was low level of protection, and not both a that bellows effect and that greatly
quite a bit of material development, low thermal burden and high system increases the system level protection.
working with universities and industry level protection. For example, we found But essentially it’s not a trade-off. What
on catalysts, reactive membranes, that the same properties that would give we did find was the trade off, was the
repellent coatings, aerosol protective you one, would also give you the other. material level and material protection.
liners and a lot of self-decontamination That really came in with the opportunity When you do a liquid droplet test,
investment. Then there was a significant to incorporate materials that stretch. that air gap between the layers also acts
chunk that looked at different mission Materials that stretch really adapt to the as a buffer zone or a way to diffuse the
spaces, trying to figure out how we can different contours of the body. When a agent that's coming through. In a
tailor the garment and existing garment person moves, the material will move laminated configuration where there's
materials to a specific mission space. with them instead of coming undone or no air gap that hits your protective layer
That was primarily Stephanie’s going loose, and that's essential for right away, it doesn't really diffuse
responsibility. system level protection, especially in laterally as much as you would want. So
terms of interfaces. for liquid defence that material
Stephanie Tew, principal research Stretch materials are essential for protection is decreased. So that's a
scientist at Battelle Memorial Institute: good system level protection, but also trade-off.
To elaborate on what Natalie was saying, for low thermal burden. What we found One thing we really struggled with
we took the materials that were coming is that you have to eliminate air as was measuring thermal burden. We try to
out of IPFS, or were being generated in much as possible. Air is an insulator, so measure material properties when we're
the industry, and looked at ways to best if you think about double glazed doing our material development and then
utilise them to fit a particular mission. windows and why they work, it's very translate that to assist at some level. We
A big part of a system design is looking difficult to find something that insulates had some good material gains but they
at the interfaces: the hood/mask, the better than air. We found that if we didn't translate to the system level, they
glove, the boot. You gave the example of could laminate materials, instead of have to be tremendous to be statistically
torturous path and we considered that attaching them in a semi-hung liner, significant on humans. We did sweating
as well as other design options. hung liner configuration, we would be thermal mannequin for the system level

CBRNeWORLD
but wanted to evaluate it with human really only comes to maybe 10 or 15 encapsulated. Once people got above
beings in a climatic chamber assessment minutes difference. core temperatures of 38.7oC we started
in a controlled environment. We chose a desert environment in seeing dropouts in every ensemble
order to highlight the benefits of this configuration. With the new CB-light,
Bruce Cadarette, research physiologist, new system versus joint service worn without body armour, especially in
US Army Research Institute of lightweight integrated suit technology this highly evaporative desert
Environmental Medicine: What's even (JSLIST). This was a two hour test and I environment, the new garments looked
more important than finding something used mannequin and modelling data a lot like people dressed in the duty
statistically different is actually finding from the JSLIST, which we knew would uniform and we saw individuals go for
something that's going to make a be our worst case, so that the volunteers extended periods beyond the 120
physiological difference for troops on would reach a core temperature of minutes mark because their core
the battlefield who are trying to 39.5oC in about two hours, our pole temperatures were so low.
complete a lengthy mission. In the past number for safety. But historically People were wearing chem bio
when we've been able to find a troops tend to be unable to reach that protective clothing but storing heat at a
statistically significant difference it core temperature when they're fully slower, lower rate. We may find that
Captain Robert C. Lee III, commander of the CCDC Soldier Center's Headquarters, R&D Detachment,
adjusts the fit of the hood over the protective mask ©CCDC Soldier Center

CBRNe SUMMIT EUROPE
URBAN MASS CASUALTY RESPONSE
Conference and Exhibition, Brno, Czech Republic | 21st 23 rd April 2020
Speaker Line up:

Colonel Vratislav Osvald, Director, NATO Joint CBRN Centre of Excellence
Colonel Jurgen Schlechter, Commander, CBRN Center Ministry of Defence, Austria
Colonel Wolfgang Reich, Deputy Director, NATO Joint CBRN Centre of Excellence
Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Broman, Commander Defense CBRN Centre, Ministry of Defence, Netherlands
Lieutenant Colonel Steve Jacobsen, Head of International Cooperation, Standardization and Doctrines Branch, CBRN Defence Command, Bundeswehr
Lieutenant Colonel Jiří Matějka, Head of Chemical Service, General Directorate of Fire Rescue Service, Ministry of Interior, Czech Republic
Police Lieutenant Colonel Nandor Kocsis, Head of CBRN Department, Counter Terrorism Centre, Hungary
Tomáš Dropa, Director, National Institute for NBC Protection, Czech Republic
Major Christophe Vincart, CBRN SME for the General Staff, Strategy Department, Ministry of Defence, Belgium
Major Perry Read, Deputy Commander, Colorado CBRNe Enhanced Response Force Package (U.S. Army)
Lyudmila Simeonova, Head of CBRN Department, Fire Safety and Civil Protection Chief Directorate, Ministry of Interior, Bulgaria
Lieutenant Colonel Ladislava Navratilova, Scientist and Chemical Expert, Fire Rescue Services, Ministry of Interior, Czech Republic
Bobby Baker, Senior Training Specialist, Counter Terrorism Division, U S Department of Energy
Professor Roberto Mugavero, President, OSDIFE
ENDORSED SUPPORTED
BY BY
SPONSORS
AND
EXHIBITORS
Book your place by:

www.intelligence sec.com I events@intelligence sec.com I +44(0)1582 346706
CBRNe Advert - EUROPE - A4.indd 1 28/11/2019 19:13

CBRNeWORLD
Finding Closure
people will be able to perform beyond CW: Another integration challenge headed generally, and that would be
the core temperatures that previously arises once you bring in seams, fantastic for chem bio because the
caused dropouts, because it might not gloves and boots. Were you able to seams are often a point of failure in
be an absolute core temperature but a work on future designs without our ensembles.
rate of heat storage. compromising protection?
ST: With the air permeable, we feel we CW: What do you think is the future
CW: It sounds like there are lots of have good solutions for interface areas direction for the team, research or
advantages to the stretch capability. Is at this point. It's with the more highly the ensembles?
there a concern that anything protective ensembles where you're NP: Right now, there's a significant
deposited on such fabric has a greater looking at more robust interfaces, effort to provide self-decontamination
chance of being ground through it due where really nothing is going to be able properties, so instead of just providing
to the ability to move, stretch and to cross that interface. I think that's barrier material, the suit would also
push something through the clothing? where the future study lies. But I do feel self-detoxify over a period of time. We're
Does that force you to place these comfortable that we've reaches good hoping that would reduce transferred
fabrics in places where chance of solutions that limit human factors hazard, have fewer issues with
exposure is less; the armpit rather concerns, for the majority of the contaminated doffing and a suit that
than the knee? interface areas in the garment. can regenerate means we could reuse it
ST: We were placing stretch material for increased service life. We're also
strategically to help preserve range of CW: Looking at your poster, you looking at membranes that will stretch
motion, and didn’t use it in areas where documented areas of improvement with isotropically, which would allow us a
we required high durability. For example regard to thermal burden. Do you hope suite of materials that do stretch.
it went on the torso, where it's covered to improve on these even more with
with a tactical vest, or above the knee future iterations or are we as good as CW: How much progress is being made
instead of over the knee. These are good it's going to get for now? towards that? Is that something we'll
areas to place stretch, where they're not NP: If we want to reduce the air gap and see in the next few years or is it a
going to need high abrasion resistance. incorporate stretch materials more than decade or so off?
we currently do, I think we could NP: Some technologies are a decade or
CW: One of the major ensemble definitely improve it, but that would so off, but we're looking at zirconium
protective problems is the mask/suit require more work on the material hydroxide and that is commercially
interface, as regards donning and science. I don't think we can get much available. We're trying to engineer it in
doffing or the protection level. You further with commercially available a form that manufacturers can
favoured a new hoodie design, did that materials. Having future materials that incorporate into textiles in a robust
managed to square that circle, or are can stretch more would mean fewer manner such that it could potentially
there some of the same old trade-offs? human factor limitations. We would transition to the team.
Equally, neckline enclosures are also like those stretch materials to be
generally not liked due to the more robust so that we aren't limited in CW: Outside of the protection factor
impression of respiratory contraction, where we place them and that will can you see an application of smart
how did you manage that? enable us to have an even tighter fabrics that can incorporate sensors, or
ST: I would say we have a 90% garment. So instead of having even just physiological monitoring or
solution at the hood/mask interface. strategically placed stretch areas, we energy scavenging? Do you think we'll
We have achieved greatly improved could have strategically placed non- see those integrated at some point?
protection in that area but there are stretch areas. NP: That's a good point. Work is being
still some human factor limitations. funded on sensors and how to integrate
The hoodie design has no neckline ST: We can always use improvements them into garments. Perhaps you would
closure, which we eliminated in these materials, like more stretch have a garment that would sense a
completely, and that yields a great and stretching in both directions. The threat and even inoculate the person.
protective interface but it doesn't allow other thing I would like to highlight is There's also work on smart fabrics,
thermal relief whenever you're in a something like 3D knitted, or anything which would perhaps undergo some
reduced MOPP configuration. that doesn’t require cutting and kind of protective transition. The fabric
Additionally it doesn't allow the user sewing. Elimination of seams can be would sense the presence of a threat and
to wear their mask and then don the helped by more stretch, but it also ‘close up’, so it would go from an open
shirt over it because the neckline is could result from using different state to a protective state once it came
not large enough. But when worn with methods for putting these materials into contact with the agent. There’s a
the second skin on the mask we're at a together. So stitchless or seamless significant effort towards developing
90% solution for that interface. items, which is a way the market is those kinds of materials.
1
https://www.battelle.org/docs/default-source/newsroom/events/dtra-cbd-conference-poster-tew.pdf?sfvrsn=a4d9b588_2

CBRNeWORLD
Marc-Michael Blum* shares his view on the new kids on the block
Whatcha’
I
n the end it all happened very the chemical used in Salisbury. This What now? And what are the
quickly. Sometime on 27 November proposal started to travel on its own consequences of the decisions?
2019 during the 24th session of the timeline as set out in article XV of the While some news articles were
conference of states parties to the convention. It was evaluated by the headlined that the OPCW had added
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) technical secretariat of the Organisation new chemicals to its list of banned
the chair of the conference called up for the Prohibition of Chemical substances, the use of these chemicals
agenda item 10 and two draft decisions Weapons (OPCW) followed by a in warfare would have already been a
were approved in parallel by consensus. recommendation from the executive violation of the convention. What
This all happened in under a minute. council in January 2019. happened is that these chemicals will
The two decisions approved were In November 2018 the Russian now be subject to strict verification
sponsored by the US, Canada and the Federation submitted an alternative measures under the convention and will
Netherlands in one case (the joint proposal. This was also evaluated by the be strictly controlled under the national
proposal) and by the Russian Federation technical secretariat and the executive implementation laws of the member
in the other. Both decisions contained council to not adopt a decision to states. This will add controls to the
chemicals and family of chemicals to be recommend adoption. Both proposals production, handling and consumption
added to schedule 1.A of the entered a 90-day period of silence in of the chemicals for purposes not
convention’s annex on chemicals. which any state party could object to prohibited by the convention, including
This event was unique in several the council’s decisions. This happened protective purposes, research, medical
ways. It was the first time states parties for both proposals. According to the and pharmaceutical use.
to the convention agreed to add new convention's regulations both proposals In addition to declaration
chemicals to the schedules in the annex were automatically referred to the requirements (on production and
on chemicals since the convention conference of state parties for decision consumption) there will be OPCW
came into force in 1997. There was as a matter of substance (requiring a inspection activities at relevant schedule
consensus regarding both proposals two-thirds majority). Before the 1 facilities. The treaty allows state
despite the political tensions between conference, in September 2019, Russia parties a relatively generous aggregate
the US and Russia that manifest modified its proposal. amount of 1tonne of schedule 1 agents
themselves in opposing views, and the What the conference has adopted as to be produced for protective purposes
absence of consensus on issues as decisions C-24/DEC.4 and C-24/DEC.5 in a so called single small scale facility.
important as the organisation’s budget. will add four new chemicals or families In practice such amounts appear far
Finally, the adoption of these new of chemicals to schedule 1.A. From the higher than what is practically needed
chemicals all started on 4 March 2018 joint proposal there will be two large but the largest amounts required for
with the failed assassination attempt on families of organophosphorus PPE testing and decon trials.
Sergej Skripal and his daughter Yulia in compounds with amidine side chains. There is very little information
Salisbury in the UK – an event that led The Russian proposal adds an additional about the agents in the public domain
to a massive diplomatic clash between organophosphorus chemical with a at present. Some toxicity data exists for
the UK (and the West) and Russia over guanidine side chain and two families of the carbamates but little is known
the following months. toxic carbamates. No additional publicly about their characteristics such
Looking more closely at the precursor chemicals will be listed, just as ease of dispersal, persistence, ease of
proposals that were finally adopted at the agents. These new additions will ingestion into the body, their
the conference, it started with the joint come into force 180 days after the pharmacodynamics and
proposal submitted in October 2018. notification of the changes to the pharmacokinetics. For the
This suggested adding two highly depositary (the UN secretary general) organophosphorus agents even peer
related families of novel and therefore in June/July 2020. reviewed toxicity data is not publicly
organophosphorus nerve agents One could simply be amazed that available. The first time these
commonly referred to as Novichok both sides were able to compromise on substances were mentioned in open
agents. According to statements from the issue, but the decisions also bring literature was in a book by former
member states the proposal included up two very important new questions: Soviet military chemist Vil Mirzayanov

CBRNeWORLD
gonna do?
in 2008, but there is little to no hard Salisbury is covered by the adopted decontamination effort. This takes me
data for the structures that appear in proposals. A chemical that was toxic to the question: What now?
the book. enough to cause a fatality (Dawn First responders and hospitals will
At the same time, according to some Sturgess) and to trigger a month long, need to know how to treat intoxication
states parties, the chemical used in multi million pound remediation and with these agents and how the
Probably the most expensive park bench in the world ©CBRNe World

CBRNeWORLD
Whatcha’ gonna do?
symptoms and treatment differ from that the manufacturers of handheld see some vendors claiming
those for classical nerve agents such as detectors must give information about compatibility of their products with the
sarin and VX. They will also need to the detectability of the new agents using new agent classes without the required
know if they can rely on their existing their devices. testing. This represents a clear
PPE and what special handling Finally, it means that manufacturers reputational danger to the whole
procedures are required, due to the of protective equipment, detection and industry and could result in disastrous
agent’s characteristics (such as volatility decontamination equipment, and consequences should the equipment fail
and stability). medical antidotes and countermeasures in a real incident.
Both laboratory chemists and first must test their products with relevant But equipment is only one part of
responders must then be able to detect members of the newly added chemical the equation. Properly trained personnel
and identify the agent. This means that families. At the same time, it can be is the other. Today we train first
mass spectral data needs to be added, expected that access to such testing and responders both on the generally
for example, to the OPCW central to detailed agent data will remain accepted doctrine for response to a
analytical database (OCAD) which is difficult and strictly controlled. chemical incident with nerve agents,
available to all member states. It means As a consequence, we will probably and also on specific agent
characteristics, for instance the
persistence of the V-agents, the issues in
using oxime reactivators with soman or
the volatile nature of sarin. It is
commendable that US Department of
Health’s chemical hazards emergency
medical management (CHEMM) issued
a reference guide for fourth generations
nerve agents (FGAs)
(https://chemm.nlm.nih.gov/
nerveagents/FGAReferenceGuide.htm)
but the problems arising with these
agents are clear from this guide as well.
For example, the section on field
detection and sampling shows pictures
with the response of M8 paper but also
states that: Detecting FGAs is more
challenging than detecting other
chemical agents. There is a limited
fielded capability within hazardous
materials teams to detect, characterise,
and identify FGAs… Monitoring,
sampling, and analysis by US
government specialised assets may be
the only way to determine if FGAs are
present. Initial field detection of FGAs
may be possible, but more definitive
identification of the presence of an FGA
will require specialised resources.
The section on medical management
reads: FGAs are more persistent than
and at least as potent as other nerve
agents. FGAs may require more
aggressive supportive care, greater
amounts of medication, and a longer
duration of treatment. And finally, the
sections under cleanup and
decontamination read: Runoff from fire
control or dilution water may be
extremely toxic, resulting in
contaminated water supplies and
The decontamination bill for two properties was enormous ©CBRNe World further complicating cleanup efforts…

CBRNeWORLD
Whatcha’ gonna do?
Now Novichoks have been added to the CWC could we see other FGAs added? It will always depend on the circumstances...
©CBRNe World
Avoid direct contact with runoff water police, paramedics and hospitals, technical evaluation of such proposals.
because FGAs are not readily degraded firefighters and civil defence/disaster While political considerations will
by water.' relief agencies, the military and their dominate, don’t forget that these
As a matter of fact, first responders specialised CBRN elements including changes are also technical in nature.
will have to operate with incomplete high end laboratories (such as DSTL), Proper scientific review and drafting
knowledge in the coming years, which public health agencies, local councils plus a science and fact based rationale
makes a reach back capability with the and municipalities up to top level are also key. Impacts on the chemical
appropriate subject matter expertise government ministries. There are industry will become an important
even more important. This includes lessons to be learned from the factor if industry relevant chemicals are
appropriate sampling and analysis Salisbury/Amesbury events of 2018 – not to be regulated. This was not the case
capabilities, given the challenges arising only for the UK but for all countries. with the present proposals, and it
with field detectors, and due to the So, let’s return to the CWC and the remains to be seen how such impact
agent itself and the need to enable OPCW. Are we going to see more will be dealt with. Science and
chemical forensics on samples collected changes to the schedules of chemicals technology are progressing, however,
during an incident. It also includes in the future, now that the ice is therefore the convention has to remain
biomedical sampling from those broken, and a first change has been a dynamic treaty.
exposed for verification of exposure and made? There is of course no clear So, what else can be said about our
to guide further treatment. answer to this, as it will always depend new kids on the block? They will surely
Cleaning up the incident sites in on the circumstances under which remain the special kids on the block for
Salisbury and Amesbury, after a release new proposals are made and the some time to come.
in the milligram scale, took nearly a year general political climate between the
and cost tens of millions of pounds1. key players. *Marc-Michael Blum is a CW and
While it is understandable that the UK Article XV of the convention laboratory consultant. Until September
government did not want to take any regulates how such changes are to be 2019 he was head of the OPCW
risks at that time, such figures are made. It puts the states parties to the laboratory and as such he was team
clearly unsustainable. Proper response convention in the driving seat. Only leader of the OPCW mission to the UK
strategies are therefore required. They they can initiate changes. The role of in response to the events in Salisbury
need to include all relevant actors: the technical secretariat is limited to a and Amesbury in 2018.
1
OPCW press release 4 May 2018

John Hart* on the 2019 meeting of states parties to the
CBRNeWORLD
1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
Strengthening
the cell wall
T
he 2019 meeting of parties (MSP) institutional deficits for doing so within international organisation (IO) system
to the 1972 Biological and Toxin the BWC framework were a major focus expertise and capacities in an ISU
Weapons Convention (BWC), of the meeting. Some parties support assistance database. Currently 122
which took place on 3-6 December in projects to develop international national points of contacts have been
Geneva, is part of a 2017-2020 inter- laboratory networks for sample analysis reported to ISU. The Non-Aligned
sessional programme of meetings of as part of efforts to strengthen the UN Movement highlighted the desirability
experts (MX) and MSPs to discuss and secretary general’s mechanism to and importance of public/private
promote common understanding and investigate alleged chemical and/or partnerships and tailored bio-risk
effective action on select biological weapons use.2 For example, management systems. It was observed
implementation issues. The MSP was Germany and Switzerland are that regional organisations can reach
chaired by Ambassador Yann Hwang of supporting laboratory network capacity- back into national institutions in a
France with Ambassador Adrian Vierita building and sampling and analysis manner that IOs may be unable to.
of Romania and Ambassador Andreano procedures validation, while Denmark India noted that pandemic response
Erwin of Indonesia as the two vice and Sweden are performing related plans have already drawn up by other
chairs. Participants circulated numerous genomics forensic research in support IOs and should be used as template
statements and gave wide-ranging of this mechanism. within the BWC framework.
presentations, including at side events Some parties emphasised that efforts Developments have also occurred
that included academia, civil society and to strengthen the UN secretary general’s within the broader public health
research organisations. The BWC mechanism should not become a de security architecture. For example, the
currently has 183 parties. Kiribati is facto alternative to a legally binding Global Preparedness Monitoring Board
expected to join shortly. compliance/verification instrument. (GPMB) is a body established ‘to
This MSP considered five reports Russia emphasised the central role of advance the common objective of
prepared by the 2019 MXs on: the UN security council in the provision ensuring preparedness for global health
• Cooperation and assistance, with a of assistance for those attacked with emergencies’ by providing
particular focus on strengthening biological weapons. Russia is also recommendations for senior
cooperation and assistance under Article generally skeptical of initiatives related government officials.3 It is chaired by Dr
X [MX1]. to the Global Partnership Against the Gro Harlem Brundtland (former prime
• Review of developments in the field Spread of Weapons and Materials of minister of Norway and former World
of science and technology related to the Mass Destruction. Health Organisation director general)
convention [MX2]. There was general recognition that and Mr Elhadj As Sy (secretary general
• Strengthening national gaps in the international system exist, of the International Federation of [the]
implementation [MX3]. including with respect to disease Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies).
• Assistance, response and surveillance and response. States parties GPMB meetings are convened jointly by
preparedness [MX4]. provided updates on meetings and the WHO and World Bank Group.
• Institutional strengthening of the projects to support and strengthen In 2019 the GPMB stated: “The
convention [MX5]. CBRN preparedness and response, secretary general of the UN, with WHO
including biosafety and biosecurity. and the UN office for the coordination
In addition, Ambassador Hwang States parties expressed support for an of humanitarian affairs (OCHA), must
circulated an aide-memoire that lists assistance database operated by a BWC strengthen coordination in different
proposals by states parties according to implementation support unit (ISU), eg country, health and humanitarian
MX topics.1 for disease outbreak responses. emergency contexts, by ensuring clear
International capacities to respond Many delegations emphasised the UN systemwide roles and
to biological weapon threats and the desirability and importance of reflecting responsibilities; rapidly resetting

CBRNeWORLD
Strengthening the cell wall
More than 98% of assessed

contributions for 2018 have been
received. However, some parties still do
not provide their assessed contributions
on time or in full. Voluntary
contributions and the recently
established working capital fund (WCF)
have been used to support operating
costs that ought to be covered by
assessed contributions.
States parties including the US,
A bio-emergency framework is slowly being realised ©WHO
expressed support for focusing on
preparedness and response strategies and 6 Risk. NTI stated that bioterrorism biological warfare plant and crop threats
during health emergencies; and risks are high and that essentially all during the 2020 MX and MSP in view of
enhancing UN system leadership for countries are underprepared to meet the fact that 2020 is the International
preparedness, including through such threats. Russia stated that it has Year of Plant Health (IYPH). The UN
routine simulation exercises”.4 One of studied the NTI index and found Food and Agriculture Organization
the GPMB progress indicators to be significant gaps and errors. Its quality is (FAO) could therefore play a more
completed by September 2020 is for partly dependent on the responsiveness prominent role in next year’s inter-
the UN, with the participation of the of national IHR [International Health sessional meetings.
WHO, to conduct at least two Regulations, 2005] focal points (NFPs), As in prior years, the draft 2019 final
systemwide training and simulation many of which have not previously MSP report is an abbreviated, factual
exercises, including one that covers interacted with NTI.8 The index will be summary of the organisation of the
‘the deliberate release of a lethal further developed and published every meeting, participation, budgetary and
respiratory pathogen’.5 two years going forward. financial matters, and the consideration
In addition, the UN office for Interpol informed the MSP that it of the MX and MSP deliberations and
disarmament affairs has overseen a two can provide field response units for their possible outcomes. The MSPs and
year international bio-emergency responding to deliberate biological MXs remain largely focused on process,
management framework for deliberate agent use, or natural disease outbreaks. while relevant developments are
events mapping exercise which was due Its bioterrorism prevention unit is occurring within the broader
for completion at the end of 2019. This developing a response unit, assessing international health security and arms
exercise was discussed during one of the biological risks and creating an control architecture. The ninth review
2019 public MSP side events with information sharing platform. Interpol conference will be held in 2021, when
further results to be released in 2020.6 stated that it would welcome information the broader geopolitical developments
The US based nuclear threat from BWC states parties on national with respect to preparedness, prevention
initiative (NTI) introduced its inaugural biosafety and biosecurity measures.9 and response to bio-risks will be further
global health security index which it The desirability of a science and evaluated.
prepared in cooperation with The technology evaluation/advice
Economist Intelligence Unit.7 The index mechanism and/or body was generally *Dr John Hart is a non-resident
evaluates and ranks national health accepted. Any decision on this matter scholar at the James Martin Center for
systems according to: 1 Prevent, 2 will probably have to be taken by the Nonproliferation Studies. Views
Detect, 3 Respond, 4 Health, 5 Norms ninth review conference in 2021. expressed are personal.
1
MX1—9 proposals, MX2—3 proposals, MX3—9 proposals, MX4—8 proposals, and MX5—8 proposals. ‘Aide Memoire’,
BWC/MSP/2019/CRP.1, 4 December 2019.
2
The secretary general has the sole authority to trigger this mechanism (ie UN security council or general assembly approval
is not required). UN office for disarmament affairs (UNODA), ‘secretary general’s mechanism for investigation of alleged use of
chemical and biological weapons’.
3
‘The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board’, <https://apps.who.int/gpmb/>.
4
A World at Risk: Annual Report on Global Preparedness for Health Emergencies (WHO: Geneva, 2019), p. VIII.
5
A World at Risk: Annual Report on Global Preparedness for Health Emergencies (WHO: Geneva, 2019), p. VIII.
6
See ‘Strengthening global mechanisms for responding to deliberate use of disease’, 14 August 2018, Geneva,
7
NTI, <https://www.ghsindex.org/>.
8
WHO, ‘Strengthening health security by implementing the International Health Regulations (2005)’,
<https://www.who.int/ihr/nfp/en/>.
9
‘Interpol CBRNE and Vulnerable Targets Sub-Directorate, opening statement, agenda item 5 // BWC/MSP/2019/1’, BWC MSP,
3-6 Dec. 2019, Geneva.

John Hart and Thomas Stock* provide an update on destruction of
CBRNeWORLD
chemical weapons abandoned by Japan in China following World War II
Feeling abandoned
C
hina and Japan continue to Excavation and recovery as well as hundreds of items of suspected Japanese
cooperate on the identification destruction operations began in 2010. ACWs in Jixi (Heilongjiang province)
and destruction of chemical China informs Japan of the existence of and emphasised that contaminated soil
weapons that were abandoned by the possible ACW. The countries jointly should also be remediated.9
latter on China’s territory at the end of investigate and recover the items that Destruction operations consist of
World War II.1 Japan is paying for are then X-rayed and overpacked and the use of fixed controlled detonation
destruction operations in accordance sealed for interim storage. As of 1 chambers (CDCs), a static detonation
with its obligations under the 1993 November 2019, Japan had declared to chamber (SDC) and mobile
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) OPCW the recovery of 74,729 ACW. As destruction facilities, including a
which, in turn, is implemented by The of the same date 57,076 ACW had been highly mobile destruction facility,
Hague-based Organisation for the destroyed. At the 24th conference of the (HMDF).10 The bulk of the ACW is
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons states parties (CSP) to the Chemical located in Haerbaling which currently
(OPCW). The numbers and locations of Weapons Convention held in held in houses two fixed destruction facilities
these abandoned chemical weapons The Hague on 25-29 November 2019, (a CDC and a SDC) and five ACW
(ACWs) are not precisely known.2 The China reported the discovery of temporary holding facilities. The
OPCW estimates that a further 330,000
items await recovery and destruction.3
Joint onsite investigations began in
1991 and recovery operations started in
2000. To date more than 130 operations
have been carried out at 50 locations. At
least 11 ACW sites have been identified:
Harbin, Haerbaling, Hunchun, Jamusi,
Liaoyuan, Nanjing, Shangzhi,
Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, and Wuhan.4 The
bulk of the ACW is located in
Haerbaling (Jilin province).
The types of ACWs comprise: 75mm,
105mm, and 150mm (2.95in, 4.13in and
5.91in) projectiles, 90mm (3.54in)
mortars, 15kg and 50 kg (33 and 110lb)
aerial bombs, canisters or gas pots,
drums and miscellaneous components
(eg burster charges and tubes).5 The
chemical fills consist of: sulphur
mustard, lewisite, hydrogen cyanide
(HCN), phosgene (CG), diphenyl-
chloroarsine (DA), diphenylcyanoarsine
(DC) and 2-chloroacetophenone (CN).6
Excavation and recovery operations are
carried out in mountainous areas,
bodies of water and in urban settings.7
Work is currently in progress in
accordance with the 2017 destruction
plan for the chemical weapons abandoned
by Japan in the People’s Republic of China
beyond the year 2016 (EC-84/NAT.6, dated
2 March 2017). Destruction operations
are currently ongoing at Haerbaling
(since 2014), Wuhan (since 2016) and Japan has 330,000 abandoned chemical weapons in China to deal with
Harbin (since 2019).8 ©CBRNe World

CBRNeWORLD
Feeling abandoned
entire complex covers an area of The current throughput of the CDC approximately €256m on inter alia
approximately 7.4km2 (2.86miles2). is six ACW per shot per chamber at a administrative and security costs, road
The CDC is manufactured and rate of two shots daily. The intention is construction and water, gas and
operated by Kobe Steel Ltd (DAVINCH), to complete the installation of four electricity. At the 24th CSP Japan stated
while the SDC is manufactured by additional CDC chambers. The planned that it plans to introduce HMDF in
Dynasafe and operated by Kawasaki CDC throughput is 18 ACW per shot per Taijuan and Gangzhou as a priority in
Heavy Industries Ltd. In the case of the chamber using four or more shots daily. order to accelerate destruction
CDC a donor charge is placed on the For the installed stationary SDC the operations. Japan also underlined its
ACW. In the case of the SDC the ACW throughput is much higher. The yet-to- commitment to complete the
are heated to approximately 550oCelsius be installed HMDF (an SDC) will have a destruction of stored and declared ACW
causing the item to detonate. The throughput of between 24 yellow 75mm using a mobile a mobile destruction
resulting solid wastes from the CDC ACWs and six red 150mm ACWs per six system in Harbin, Taiyuan, and
process are finally treated in a metal hour shift. The HMDF assembly takes Guangzhou by 2022. Finally, Japan
heat treatment process, as well as a approximately 15 days and covers an seeks to complete the destruction of
rotary kiln type process. The off-gases area of approximately 30m x 50m ACW at Haerbaling using a fixed
from both processes (CDC and SDC) (998.4ft x 164ft). destruction system by 2022.
undergo final treatment in separate On 2-7 September 2019
customised off-gas processes. As process- representatives of the OPCW executive *Dr John Hart is a non-resident
related wastes (inert and flammable council, the OPCW director general and scholar at the James Martin Center for
materials, as well as liquid wastes and observers from other states parties Nonproliferation Studies. Views
some contaminated soil) from the MDFs visited the ACW site at Haerbaling in expressed are personal.
and HMDF will result, the HMDF will be order to assess progress and the state of Dr Thomas Stock is the former
used for the final treatments of these cooperation between China and Japan.11 director of business development at
wastes, using a clean burning chamber To date, Japan has spent approximately Dynasafe Environmental Systems
(CBU) technology, which is integrated €2.2bn on ACW destruction efforts. In GmbH. Views expressed are personal.
into the HMDF. fiscal year 2019 Japan spent
1
Unless otherwise noted, information is derived from a Japanese poster presentation at the 24th conference of the states
parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention held in The Hague on 25-29 November 2019.
2
Japan, ‘Report on the current status of the ACW projects in China in accordance with Executive Council decision EC-
67/DEC.6 (dated 15 February 20120), reporting period: 1 February 2019—31 May 2019’, OPCW document EC-91/NAT.5, 20
June 2019, para. 2.3, p. 2.
3
‘Opening statement by the director general to the conference of the states parties at its Twenty-Fourth Session’, OPCW
document C-24/DG.19, 25 November 2019, para. 36, p. 5.
4
Hironori HARA (Abandoned Chemical Weapons Office, Japan), ‘Japan’s ACW destruction project in China’, slide 4. Presented
at 22nd International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation (CWD) Conference, 23 May 2019, London. The 22nd CWD
conference was held on 22-24 May and was hosted by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). Two other possible
sites are: Beian and Mudanjiang.
5
Cheng TANG (Deputy Chief, Office for Disposal of the Japanese Abandoned Chemical Weapons, China MOD), ‘Destruction of
the Japanese abandoned chemical weapons discovered in China: progress and challenges’, slide 9. Presented at the 22nd
International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation (CWD) Conference, 22-24 May 2019, London.
6
Cheng TANG (Deputy Chief, Office for Disposal of the Japanese Abandoned Chemical Weapons, China Ministry of Defence),
‘Destruction of the Japanese abandoned chemical weapons discovered in China: progress and challenges’, slide 9. Presented at
the 22nd International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation (CWD) Conference, 22-24 May 2019, London.
7
Japan, ‘Report on the current status of the ACW projects in China in accordance with Executive Council decision EC-
67/DEC.6 (dated 15 February 20120), reporting period: 1 February 2019—31 May 2019’, OPCW document EC-91/NAT.5, 20
June 2019, para. 2.1, p. 1.
8
Hironori HARA (Abandoned Chemical Weapons Office, Japan), ‘Japan’s ACW destruction project in China’, slide 2. Presented
at 22nd International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation (CWD) Conference, 23 May 2019, London. The 22nd CWD
conference was held on 22-24 May and was hosted by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
9
China, ‘Statement by Vice Minister Wang Zhijun of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s
Republic of China during the general debate of the 24th session of the conference of the states parties to the CWC’, p. 2, 25-29
November 2019, The Hague.
10
Two different categories are implemented or are in the process of being implemented: mobile destruction facilities (MDFs)
and a more highly mobile destruction facility or HMDF.
11
‘Report of the Twenty-Fourth Session of the Conference of the States Parties, 25—29 November 2019’, OPCW document C-
24/5, 29 November 2019, para. 9.13, p. 8.

Zoe Rutherford looks at some of the products
CBRNeWORLD
that provide protection for hands and feet
Hand in Glove
W
hen you mention personal without sufficient dermal protection, ease we will refer to NFPA standards
protective equipment (PPE) what’s the point? only this time around as we could
for CBRN or hazmat response There are plenty of options out there probably write an entire issue on
most people will immediately think of when it comes to boots and gloves, and standards comparisons alone.
suits and respirators. While these are you can spend a long time looking at When you look at the NFPA
major, and very important, components what is available, however many standards you will find there are three in
of the protective ensemble they are not important factors have to be considered particular that relate to CBRN and
the only elements you need for a truly when you are searching for these hazmat, and they are NFPA 1991, NFPA
defensive stance. They may not be the individual protection items. The trick is 1992, and NFPA 1994, each of which
first thing you think of, and when it firstly to narrow down exactly what you covers slightly different protective
comes to kit they are usually need in terms of protection level; once elements. NFPA 1991 is the standard on
considered the least ‘sexy’ as it were, you have that it gets a little easier. In vapour protective ensembles for
but individual protection items like the US it’s the National Fire Protection hazardous materials emergencies and
boots and gloves are an essential part of Association (NFPA) standard of CBRN terrorism incidents. NFPA 1992 is
a responder’s outfit. It is all well and protection that’s used, and in the EU it the standard on liquid splash protective
good to have respiratory protection but is the European Standards (EN). For ensembles and clothing for hazardous
materials emergencies, and NFPA 1994
covers protective ensembles for first
responders to hazardous materials
emergencies and CBRN terrorism
incidents. As you can see 1991 and 1994
appear to be pretty much identical except
for the term vapour. The 1991 standard
provides requirements for protection
“against adverse vapour environments”,
meaning that conforming items are gas
tight, whereas the 1994 standard does
not require that.
When looking at dermal protection
you will find that most products are
certified to NFPA 1991 as this is
considered the highest level of protection
outside of military standards. You will also
come across the odd product that has
been certified to NFPA 1992.
Once you know which standard your
individual protection items need to be
certified to, you have to consider what
suit they will be paired to. The items you
choose must be compatible so they do not
compromise the integrity of the ensemble
at the points where they integrate. This
will lead you to consider the type of items
you require. With boots, should they be
long or short, full boot or over boot, and
with gloves do you need long or short,
with single or multiple layers? The
process can get complicated, and lengthy,
but it is obviously worth taking the time
Stop! In the name of dermal protection, before it stops your heart... ©IFREACT to get all these factors right before

CBRNeWORLD
Hand in Glove
signing up to any large purchases. In the to make it secure while wearing gloves. aramid layer, a fibre which is used in
US you can turn to organisations such as The fasteners can be disposed of and ballistic-rated body armour fabric and
National Institute for Occupational Safety replaced instead of being decontaminated. ballistic composites, provides great
and Health (NIOSH), the Occupational This adds to the cost of the product over puncture protection and flame
Safety and Health Administration the long term, but with an item such as protection. As this glove is comprised of
(OSHA), and Chemical Hazards fasteners, disposal may be preferable to protective fabric layers it provides greater
Emergency Medical Management decontamination in some instances. dexterity than a solid butyl type glove, or
(CHEMM), for help with these issues as Tingley has gone one step further a multi-glove system, for example.
they all provide PPE selection guides. with certification of the HazProof boot. The level of dexterity can be make or
Once you’ve done all this and have Not only is it certified to NFPA break when using a glove, depending on
narrowed down the type of equipment 1991:2016, and can stand up to all the the user’s requirements. For a responder
you want it’s time to start looking at routine hazmat chemicals you may who needs to conduct fine manipulations
what is out there. A lot of the products encounter, it has also undergone in the field, a glove like this will be better
currently available have been around for additional permeation testing under than one made from a more solid
years. They have been tried, tested, and military standard 282. This is the material that may be less flexible.
proven in the jobs responders require of Department of Defense (DoD) test Another advantage of the Hazglove-91
them. Dermal protection is one of many method standard for filter units, is that it has been designed to be
areas in the CBRN domain where protective clothing, gasmask universally compatible with all suit types.
developments seem, at times, to move at components and related products. Saint-Gobain has achieved this through
a snail’s pace, though that’s not to say Under this testing the HazProof boot the use of a ring and clamp system.
there are no improvements. has been shown to provide protection Utilising this type of attachment and
We last wrote about individual against CW blister and nerve agents, closure system means there is less to
protection items back in 2014, and when including mustard, sarin, and soman. As worry about as regards whether the glove
it comes to boots not much has changed with most CBRN kit made from PVC the you have chosen will fit your suit or not.
in terms of the base materials used. The shelf life, unused, for the HazProof is 10 It also gets rid of the need to use chemical
predominant materials are still butyl years from date of manufacture, which protective tape to seal the end of the glove
rubber compounds and PVC alloys; but is about the industry standard. But as to the suit where they integrate.
there are new and improved products on the boots comes in a fetching electric As with the HazProof boot, the
the market that are certified to the orange colour, you are unlikely to Hazglove-91 provides protection against
current version of the NFPA standard, overlook them and forget they’re in routinely encountered hazmat chemicals
namely NFPA 1991:2016. your kit cupboard. The individual retail such as toluene, hydrogen chloride,
One such product is the HazProof price for a pair of boots direct from the anhydrous ammonia, and standard
boot from Tingley Rubber Corporation. company, currently stands at $134, not solvents as well as protecting against the
This boot is constructed of injection bad when you consider the protection CW agents mustard and soman. Storage
moulded PVC for enhanced protection, as level being offered. life for the gloves is 15 years from the
injection moulded products are seamless, With gloves there have been more date of manufacture, provided they are
which means the boots offers 100% advances in recent years. This is due to stored correctly. The Hazglove-91 retails
waterproof protection and a much multiple factors such as advances in at around $170-$180 dollars a pair.
reduced chance of agent permeation. The fabrics and manufacturing techniques, We’ve covered just two of many good
injection moulded construction also and the fact that we need to allow for products available for dermal protection
means that the boot has a smooth exterior manual dexterity, which is not so with a in CBRN and hazmat situations in order
surface, making decontamination easier. boot. Many good gloves are available, but to give a taste of what is out there to
The HazProof boot was designed with again looking at those certified to the meet your requirement should you be in
ease of donning and doffing in mind. To current edition of NFPA 1991:2016, one the market for some new kit. For the
help achieve this Tingley went for an in particular comes to mind and that is time being boots and gloves will probably
oversized foot bed, which can Saint-Gobain’s ONESUIT Hazglove-91. remain the ugly sisters of the PPE world.
accommodate the bulk of an encapsulated This product uses Saint-Gobain’s Advances in materials science are being
suit, and a fully gusseted opening. The Coretech barrier system (a combination made every day, leading to new ways to
company has even gone so far as to of fluoropolymers with conventional produce, knit and combine protective
incorporate a heel kick into the boot plastics), and the gloves are constructed fabrics that we couldn’t do before, and
meaning the wearer can easily don and using this chemical barrier as a liner and even to integrate chemical sensors into
doff without assistance. A boot with a an outer aramid fibre layer which gloves for example. Until these
gusseted opening may cause concern for together form a joined, single piece developments are turned into actual
some when compared to a boot that just glove. The Coretech barrier provides a products, however, and certifiable to the
slips on to the foot, but the HazProof high level of protection against a broad required standards, then no boot or glove
boot is secured using stretch fasteners, so range of both chemical and biological will elicit the ‘ooh, look at that’ sentiment
the wearer can easily tighten the opening agents, while the use of the external in quite the same way a respirator does.

Dr Kate McCarthy-Barnett, Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency
CBRNeWORLD
Management Agency and Captain Michael Armistead, Nashville Fire Department
Special Operations Division on the recent PRISM training in Nashville
Pathfinder
Introduction
Nashville’s Nissan stadium provided
the backdrop for a demonstration of
the most recent US federal guidance
for responding to CBRN and hazmat
incidents. The exercise was led by the
Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) in partnership with
Nashville fire department Special
Operations Division. The Primary
Response Incident Scene Management
(PRISM) guidance1, was developed by
the Department of Health and
Human Service (DHHS)and is based
on a programme of research
performed at the University of
Hertfordshire, and sponsored by the
office of the assistant secretary for
preparedness and response,
Biomedical Advanced Research and
Development Authority (BARDA).
The PRISM approach combines an
initial operational response (IOR)
with updated guidance for the
subsequent specialist operational
response (SOR). PRISM guidance is
focused on a disrobe and
decontaminate response to chemical
incidents, emphasising the rapidity of
the initial response to prioritise
casualty survival. Evidence based
protocols have been developed to
reduce response times and enhance
casualty throughput using an
optimised triple protocol of dry
decontamination, ladder pipe system
and technical decontamination.
Past events have shown that the
intentional release of a hazardous
substance on a large scale may result
in a mass casualty incident. In the
case of major public gatherings, such
as those held at Nissan stadium, the
ability to address the chemical PRISM recommends dry decon using
incident immediately, before the commercially available materials
arrival of specialised resources, may before hose and ladder pipe decon
substantially enhance casualty survival. ©CBRNe World

CBRNeWORLD
Pathfinder
Standard and non-ambulatory so it represents a simple, but During the exercise, first
pathways potentially lifesaving action. responders used readily available
Following a simulated chemical After removing clothing, the wound dressing materials from
incident at the stadium, the casualties were moved away from the emergency medical services (EMS)
‘casualties’ (volunteers from Nashville disrobe area for emergency dry vehicles to demonstrate the process.
fire department) were evacuated from decontamination. The introduction of This was a reminder to conference
the hot zone and followed either a dry decontamination to the incident participants that the concept of dry
standard or non-ambulatory pathway. response process establishes a rapid decontamination does not require an
The standard response included means of treating casualties by self additional funding allocation since
casualties who were able to understand application of any dry, absorbent any absorbent products including
instructions and perform the required material to exposed body surfaces while paper towels, wound dressings,
steps without assistance. Designed to awaiting the arrival and deployment of kitchen or toilet tissue, diapers and
provide a clinically effective, high- ladder pipe and technical cotton wool can be utilised. With all
throughput process using currently decontamination systems. The process the new dry decontamination
available resources, the standard does not require any specialised products on the market, it was a
pathway includes disrobe, dry products or an immediate source of timely lesson to share with
decontamination, ladder pipe system water and is particularly effective conference participants that they
(gross) decontamination and finally against liquid skin contamination. may already have access to suitable
technical (thorough) decontamination. Previous studies have consistently items for dry decontamination.
The non-ambulatory pathway was demonstrated the clinical benefit of
employed for casualties who were rapid skin decontamination as this Non-ambulatory pathway: disrobe
simulating unresponsive or life significantly reduces the dermal and dry decontamination
threatening injuries and involved absorption of toxic chemicals such as Simultaneously with the standard
stabilising any life threatening injuries chemical warfare agents. It also avoids pathway response, other first
prior to evacuation, followed by problems associated with wet responders wearing appropriate PPE
individualised disrobe, dry and decontamination, such as a lack of evacuated the non-ambulant
technical decontamination. For the available water, enhanced skin casualties using spine boards. The
purpose of this demonstration, the absorption, production of uncontrolled casualties were carried out of the hot
technical decontamination processes waste and spreading of contaminants zone to an area of relative safety
were omitted. over the skin surface2. When where the casualties were disrobed
performed in accordance with by cutting and peeling back the
Standard pathway: disrobe and dry instructions, dry decontamination can clothing while minimising contact
decontamination attain up to 99% removal of liquid with the underlying skin to avoid
To reduce exposure, decrease the risk contaminants from skin surfaces and cross contamination. This was
of secondary contamination and the improve the outcome of wet followed by dry decontamination
potential transfer of contaminant from decontamination procedures when using a similar protocol to the
clothing to the skin, the casualties performed as part of triple protocol standard response pathway but
were instructed to disrobe immediately incident response3. adapted to incorporate a greater
following evacuation. During the During this emergency dry degree of first responder
disrobing process, the first responders decontamination step, the first intervention. The responders
provided clear instructions to the responders instructed the casualties to initiated the 10:10 blot and rub
casualties on how to disrobe safely and use the 10:10 protocol which involves protocol starting on the front of the
what the expected outcomes would be 10 seconds of blotting followed by 10 body with exposed skin surfaces such
in terms of a potentially lifesaving seconds of rubbing the same body as face, hands and any other areas
reduction in contamination. area. The casualties started with the that were not covered by clothing.
Using a top down approach tops of their heads and hair followed The casualty was then rolled to the
starting with the head, the volunteers by their faces, hands and then any recovery position and the same
removed their clothing. All upper other areas that were not initially decontamination process was
body clothing was carefully lifted clothed and thus potentially exposed. completed on the back of the body.
clear of the volunteers’ faces to avoid The first responders counted aloud the Since the PRISM guidance does
cross contamination of the eyes, nose two 10 second durations for each body not recommend ladder pipe system
or mouth. area to synchronise the steps. Since decontamination of non-ambulatory
Throughout this portion of the the ideal protocol is to use fresh patients, the first responders
demonstration, the first responders decontamination materials on the proceeded to move the patients to a
consistently communicated the key different body parts, casualties were simulated area where technical
message that removal of clothing will provided with new absorbent material decontamination would be completed
remove most of the contaminant and for each body area. using a revised procedure 4.

CBRNeWORLD
Pathfinder
Standard gross decontamination: ladder Lessons learned manner by the ambulatory casualties.
pipe system The demonstration showed that the Since there is currently no
For casualties following the standard PRISM protocols for disrobe and dry evidence based decontamination
pathway, the next step involved ladder decontamination can have significant procedure for at-risk individuals
pipe system (LPS) decontamination. benefits without requiring additional including those with disabilities,
This protocol involved two Nashville fire resources, specialised products or an chronic health conditions, and
engines parking parallel to produce a immediate source of water. durable medical and ancillary
corridor with a high volume mist of The first responders indicated equipment, the demonstration did not
water via the engines’ side pumps, that the ability to act quickly while include volunteers from these
supplemented with an overhead spray. mitigating the risk of enhancing populations. FEMA region one is,
Current evidence has demonstrated dermal absorption supported the however, leading efforts to secure
that a 15–30 second duration is implementation of the IOR portion of research to generate evidence to fully
sufficient for LPS decontamination. The the guidance. In addition, the integrate at-risk individuals into the
first responders instructed the participants’ realisation that dry CBRN incident response.
casualties to walk through the corridor decontamination can be performed Finally, this demonstration
and stop at the centre. The casualties with any available absorbent material confirmed the ease with which the
began by rubbing their head and hair, was a crucial lesson in support of the PRISM guidance can be incorporated
face and neck first for at least five adoption of the protocol. into existing first response
seconds followed by rubbing down their Incidentally, the introduction of the arrangements. Although neither
shoulders, arms and upper body for emergency dry decontamination step Nashville fire department nor the local
another five seconds. At this point, the also significantly reduces the risk of EMS had prior experience of the new
casualties turned their bodies through secondary contamination in PRISM protocols, they were able to
360° with arms out stretched and downstream operations 5. successfully demonstrate these practices.
rubbed down their legs to their feet for Prior to the exercise, the hazmat
a final five seconds. team responders received training Conclusion
The responders continued to provide from FEMA which emphasised the The collaboration between FEMA and
clear communication before and during potentially lifesaving effects of rapid Nashville fire department for this
the LPS procedure explaining what was disrobe and dry decontamination and demonstration at CBRNe Convergence
going to happen and how the casualty so identified a critical message for first was the first step to educating and
can most benefit from the process by responders implementing the new training responders to the lifesaving
following the evidence based protocols. response protocols. The Nashville fire benefits of the PRISM protocols.
Upon completion of LPS department has a close collaboration With such simple disrobing and
decontamination, PRISM guidance with local EMS and demonstrating its emergency dry decontamination
recommends that casualties proceed participation in the exercise was actions, it is our hope that others will
with active drying which involves using important, as EMS personnel are likely commit to training, exercising and
absorbent material to remove water to be on scene at a real incident. adopting the evidence based guidance
from the skin and hair. This process has Implementation of the which may save lives during a mass
been shown to potentially account for communication strategies casualty chemical incident.
more than half the contaminant recommended by PRISM and used by If you are interested in receiving
removed by wet decontamination the first responders was found to be an additional information or training,
processes and starts with drying the essential component to ensuring the please contact Dr Kate McCarthy-
face, then the hair and head and moves disrobe and dry decontamination Barnett at kate.mccarthybarnett@
systematically down the body. protocols were performed in a timely fema.dhs.gov.
1
RP Chilcott, J. Larner and H. Matar, www.medicalcountermeasures.gov/barda/ cbrn/prism/
2
Chilcott RP. Managing mass casualties and decontamination. Environ Int 72:37-45. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.02.006.
3
Chilcott RP, Larner J, Durrant A, Hughes P, Mahalingam D, Rivers S, Thomas E, Amer N, Barrett M, Matar H, Pinhal A,
Jackson T, McCarthy-Barnett K, Reppucci J (2019). Evaluation of US Federal Guidelines (Primary Response Incident Scene
Management [PRISM]) for Mass Decontamination of Casualties During the Initial Operational Response to a Chemical
Incident. Ann Emerg Med 73(6):671-684. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2018.06.042.
4
Chilcott RP, Mitchell H and Matar H, 2018. Optimization of Nonambulant Mass Casualty Decontamination Protocols as Part
of an Initial or Specialist Operational Response to Chemical Incidents.
Prehosp Emerg Care 30:1-12. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2018.1469705.
5
Larner J, Durrant A, Hughes P, Mahalingam D, Rivers S, Matar H, Thomas E, Barrett M, Pinhal A, Amer N, Hall C, Jackson T,
Catalani V, Chilcott RP., 2019. Efficacy of Different Hair and Skin Decontamination Strategies with Identification of Associated
Hazards to First Responders. Prehosp Emerg Care 19:1-14. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2019.1636912.

CAPABILITY PROFILES
Zeteo Tech
Zeteo Tech is a venture-backed biodefense
company that is fielding a revolutionary new
platform of biological mass spectrometers.
Our instruments identify airborne microbes,
biotoxins, and low-volatility chemicals, and
are designed for continuous monitoring of
critical infrastructure. Exceptional sensitivity
and fully-automated, near real-time
detection and identification of bio-threats
enables unprecedented level of operational
control at a surprisingly low operating cost.
Monitoring your critical infrastructure for
biological threats is now as practical as it is
for chemical threats.
Blauer
Blauer’s Homeland Defender line of CBRN/HAZMAT ensembles are made with GORE CHEMPAK fabrics and
designed to be the most functional PPE available for challenging HAZMAT and CBRN missions.
Made in the U.S.A. and certified to the NFPA 1994 and NFPA 1992 standards for durable protection against
CWA’s and TIC’s in liquid, vapor, and particulate forms.
For technical specifications and pricing, please contact chembio@blauer.com or visit

www.blauerhomelanddefender.com
Detection:
NBC-Sys: Innovation focusing on your Safety! Chemical toxic agent detector kit (KTDC) /
Fiel Biological Detection Kit (KDTB Gold®) /
From design to production to customer support, Individual Protection: Individual detector of neurotoxin agents
NBC-Sys covers numerous technologies Gas Masks-civilians, soldiers, helicopter pilots/ (DETINDIV)
against nuclear, radiological biological and Civilian: EVATOX (adult, child, baby), Paper detector notebook (PDF1)
chemical hazards. BIOPROTECT / Filtering Canister (NBC NATO,
ABEK, Wide spectrum) / Blower (CASU) / Sampling:
Military and Civilian Interventions face to Survival kits (LABIC, ISK) Sampling equipment (EPTBC – set of
Toxic Hazards: biological and chemical sampling and
NBC terrorism; Civil defence; Industrial Decontamination: transportation equipment – and sampling kit)
Accidents (Nuclear and Chemical); Hazmat MEERKAT: Multi-purpose decontamination
Transportation Accidents; Emergency response equipment / Emergency: a range made with
and Disaster Management "Fuller's earth" ingredient, powdering gloves and
decontamination kit / DSSM: Decontam-ination Contact:
Collective Protection : System for Sensitive Material / SYMODA: Tel: +33 477 191921
Air conditioning & Filtration unit for vehicles, MObile SYstem for Air Decontamination / Fax: +33 4 77 19 1929
tents and ships /Complete range of filters (NBC, CERPE: personal decontamination line / SDA: Sales@nbc-sys.com
NBC+TIC's) from 12 to 300 m3/h thorough decontamination system of vehicles www.nbc-sys.com
Argon
With our CBRNe / HazMat training systems Training solutions available include physical
in use by many organisations worldwide instruments and virtual App based simulators
including UK MoD, US DoD and the enabling Table top, local and field exercises
Canadian DND, Argon has a wide range of to take place in pretty much any environment
simulators capable of use independently, you chose incorporating both mounted and
instrumented with PlumeSIM or integrated dismounted training capabilities.
with third party Live / Virtual training systems.
Our specialist engineering team can also
A variety of white papers, case studies and create custom solutions to meet your specific
eBooks are available to read on our website CBRNe training requirements.
enabling you to learn how our customers
achieve best practice and have enhanced
their training through effective simulator use.

CAPABILITY PROFILES
FLIR
FLIR builds the most advanced detection
tools – ready to use or integrate on platforms
– that see and sense harmful chemical,
biological, radiological, nuclear, and
explosives substances. Our tools speed
decision-making and response time when
dangerous threats present themselves. The
most recent addition to our portfolio of
solutions is the FLIR MUVE C360 - a multi-
gas detector completely integrated with an
unmanned aerial system (UAS) to provide
real-time continuous monitoring of chemical
hazards while on the move.
BioFire Defense - BioSurveillance Systems

We deliver a fully integrated suite of computer, barcode reader and a detection system in a lightweight,
biological agent identification bright, easy-to-read color screen for small footprint format.
products, including: yes or no results.
Both systems identify dozens of
RAZOR Mk II - Hand Portable FilmArray - Fully Automated the most lethal viruses and
Pathogen Identification BioIdentification bacteria, including emerging
The RAZOR Mk II identifies The FilmArray is the next infectious diseases.
biological pathogens with ultra- generation in automated biological
reliable PCR based results and is identification systems. Samples are Learn more at
easily operated while working in loaded into an easy-to-use plastic www.BioFireDefense.com
PPE and under extreme conditions. pouch with automated capabilities,
Made for field use, the RAZOR Mk including sample preparation,
II is compact, lightweight and easy- reverse transcription for RNA
to-use. This updated, battery viruses and nested multiplex PCR.
powered system includes a built-in The results are a revolutionary
Tex-Shield, Inc.
Tex-Shield is the U.S. licensee of the unique SARATOGA chemical protective technology,
the most trusted name in chemical protective textiles and garments in the world.
SARATOGA garments are air permeable, adsorptive systems designed to provide optimal
protection against chemical agents. Comfortable, flexible, lightweight, and breathable, they
offer extended wear time and reduced heat stress. SARATOGA protective garments are
durable and can be laundered repeatedly, reducing total lifecycle costs.
Only SARATOGA fabrics are qualified for use in the JSLIST chemical protective
overgarment and JPACE aircrew coverall. Tex-Shield’s other products include the Hammer
Suit, chemical protective undergarments, gloves, footwear, and filtration media.
Tex-Shield, Inc.
3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814
Tel: +1 (301) 941-1828 E-mail: info@tex-shield.com
Web: www.bluecher.com/en/brands/Saratoga
AirBoss Defense
AirBoss Defense: Develops and manufactures class leading PPE that protects against
CBRN and environmental threats for the defense and first responder markets. Our
products feature superior ergonomics and comfort, while exceeding US and NATO
requirements. An ISO registered, manufacturer of technically advanced, highest
quality, patented Personal Protective Equipment; Masks, Over Boots, Gloves &
Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs); rapidly deployable, durable Articulating
Framed Shelters/ Decontamination Consequence Management Shelter Systems,
Contaminated Patient Transportation Devices (ISOPODs), Filters and Thermal Targets
& PPE are used by all branches/components in DOD, including the USMC Chemical
Biological Incident Response Force(CBIRF), National Guard CBRN first response units
(CSTs/FSRTs/CERF-Ps/HRFs), foreign militaries, the FBI, CIA, DOS, DOJ, DHS &
civilian EMS units, hospitals and law enforcement. Our Negative Pressure Individual
Isolation Transportation Systems (ISO-PODS), are in use across the U.S. and 13
countries since the Ebola and MERS crisis.

CAPABILITY PROFILES
ECOTEST
ECOTEST is an experienced developer and high-tech and ergonomic design solutions using the
manufacturer of over 30 high-quality radiation latest types of ionization radiation detectors and
measurement instruments and systems which provide: patented information processing equipment and
• Personnel exposure monitoring methods coupled with wireless communication
• Isotope identification (SPRD & PRD) technologies.
• Survey Meters
• Contamination and activity measurement The quality management system is a guarantee
• Area monitoring of the stable quality of our devices and deliveries to
• Solutions for special purpose vehicles & ships a customer as well as warranty and post-warranty
services.
Our company has participated in international
technical assistance programs, including the Second We are always willing to offer our clients an individual
Line of Defense equipment program. We constantly approach and jointly find the best solution.
improve our products and extend their functional svot@ecotest.ua
capabilities according to market needs. We develop www.ecotestgroup.com
CRISTANINI
Cristanini systems join reliable, ruggedized particular using bio decontaminants and
and simple systems with one multispectral special steam applicators. In order to
decon/detox product BX 24 effective against complete a width range of products for a
CWA, BWA, TICs and emerging diseases. safer world, Cristanini shows its excellence
The range of decontaminants that Cristanini in industrial, environmental and also
can offer has been expanded with other firefighting area in particular with systems for
products such as BX 40, for the exterior of first attack of fire area in open and confined
the aircrafts, helicopters and nuclear spaces. Cristanini company is NATO
decontamination, BX 29 for personnel constructor since 1987 n. A5009.
decontamination and SX 34, a
decontaminant for sensitive equipment.
Another sector where Cristanini operates is
the sanitization of ambulances, tents,
vehicles which transport sick people, in
Thermo Fisher Scientific

The military and CBRNE defense teams are subjected to the harshest and
most frightening threats known to man, whether they be toxic materials,
bombs, chemical threats, or radiological events. Rapid identification of
explosives, chemical weapons and agents, and radiation can be a matter of
life and death for occupants of the target area. Making matters more
complex, military personnel often carry upwards of 100 lbs (45kg) of gear into
the field. When missions can last days, or even weeks, every ounce counts.
Thermo Scientific radiation and chemical threat detection equipment is
compact and rugged to ease the load and minimize time on target.
PROENGIN Biological and Chemical Detection Systems

Proengin has developed biological and – AP4C-F, on critical buildings and ships.
chemical warfare agents (CWA) field These detectors show same detection
detectors using flame spectrometry. performances, with characteristics suitable
for vehicles, buildings and ships, in terms
Chemical detection of autonomy and data networking.
AP4C is a hand held chemical detector
able to detect all CWA and many TICs, Biological detection
precursors, derivatives or unknown The biological detector MAB has the
(Novichok). Continuous measurement, fast unique capacity of detecting and
clear down after positive detection and categorizing biological particles with a
particular easiness of use make of this proven extremely low false alarm rate. It is
detector the perfect one for field missions. designed to trigger sampling and analysing
Range of products show also: devices.
– AP4C-V, aboard wheeled and tracked
reconnaissance vehicles, www.proengin.com

CBRNeWORLD
In a new series Dr Christina Baxter,
of Emergencyresponsetips.com, offers helpful advice for
first responders. This issue is Raman spectroscopy.
Keeping you safe!

This new column is intended to provide There are many Raman spectroscopy instruments on the market
operational guidance to today. When selecting the appropriate device for your team,
the hazmat/ several important factors should be considered. One of these is
CBRNE community the wavelength of the laser – ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS) and
regarding the near-infrared (NIR) lasers are all available today with near-
selection and infrared being the most common. There are trade-offs
performance of which the user must balance when choosing the
equipment and wavelength; these include scattering efficiency, photon
tactics. For energy, fluorescence, spectral resolution and
this first detector availability. Generally, as the
edition, we are wavelength increases from UV
focussing on (ie 325-nm) to VIS (ie 532-
Raman nm) to NIR (ie 785-nm, 1064-
spectroscopy nm), signal intensity, photon
and energy, fluorescence and spectral
instrument resolution decrease while detector
selection. complexity increases.
Risk of deflagration
The safety concern that has received the highest level of
attention over the years has been the potential for
excessive heating of samples due to the energy of
the illuminating laser. Work performed by
Harvey and Wright at the Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory (report
PNNL-13942) demonstrated that 12 seconds
of illumination from the commonly used 300-
mW 785-nm NIR laser resulted in sample
temperatures ranging from 28.0°C for white
samples to 146.8°C for black samples. These
thermography experiments led to the
recommendation that grey or black samples, or
samples on a dark background, should not be
analysed using the standard 300-mW 785-nm
systems. In addition, the report recommends that
explosives, explosive mixtures and propellants only be
analysed in milligram quantities as unacceptable risk could be
posed by larger sample sizes. One way in which many
commercial instruments attempt to avoid these issues is by
using raster scanning of the sample. In this way, the
energy is dispersed across an area of the sample
versus a point in the sample.

CBRNeWORLD
Eye safety
Another significant safety concern when using Raman spectroscopy instruments, especially
those with lasers in the NIR region, is that the power densities are high enough to damage
the user’s eyes. Just one glance into the direct or reflected laser can cause
irreversible ocular damage. The eye’s natural way of protecting itself using
the blink reflex is not fast enough to protect against the power of
lasers in the NIR region (greater than 1mW). When using non-eye
safe Raman systems, it is imperative that eye safety is maintained
by wearing appropriate safety goggles, avoiding reflective surfaces,
and using sample containment devices, when available.
Fluorescence
Fluorescence interference may be caused by either the compound being analysed or impurities
in the sample. In this case, molecules absorb the laser energy causing the molecule to be
excited to a higher electronic state. As the molecules relax to the lower energy level,
fluorescent light is emitted. This phenomenon is dependent upon the excitation
wavelength. In the UV region, sample fluorescence can often mask the entire Raman
signal. As the wavelength of the laser is increased towards the NIR region, the
fluorescence decreases. In fact, this lack of fluorescence interference is one
of the main selling points of 1064-nm Raman systems over the traditional
785-nm systems or those of lower wavelengths.
Future systems will likely take advantage of time-resolved
spectroscopy as a means of removing much of the fluorescence signal,
especially at the lower wavelengths. A common example of
fluorescence interfering with sample
adjudication on a 785-nm instrument is
seen with heroin which naturally fluoresces.
The Future: proximity and stand-off detection

While most Raman spectroscopy instruments used by the emergency
response community are point detectors, there are two systems
currently working towards proximity, or stand-off, detection. The Mira Until next time,
DS has an optical attachment designed for remote identification from up
to 1.5metres (4.92ft) away. The Pendar X10 system provides a dedicated
remote identification capability from up to 1metre. Both systems utilise
raster scanning to disperse the laser energy while also providing
enhanced mixture identification. The Pendar X10 also has the added
benefit of limited fluorescence interference and lower laser energy than
most NIR products. Other systems focus on utilising UGV and UAV
interfaces to achieve stand-off capability.
Finally, it is imperative that
you try any instrument that you
are considering procuring. Make
sure that the libraries are
suitable for the threats of
interest, the software is simple
yet powerful, and that detector
CBax away!
maintenance, logistics, and
upkeep are within your capability,
technically and financially.

CBRNeWORLD Governor Gabriel Cinomis, a Prairie Dog, gives his

opinion of CBRN matters from his unique perspective
Prairie Dog
M s Chuckworthy and I weave, duck, and
dive as the political situation in
Dogtown continues to deteriorate along with
incorporated various cooling systems into
protective gear. A massive reduction in
battery size with increased energy density
suspicion that had not at least one incident
been covered by the press, GGH would
never have reported the pneumonic plague
the budgets for necessary services. I hear has made these active cooling systems case to international authorities as is
there is a booming business in cordless smaller and a bit more portable. required. Notably, the hospital where this
household reciprocating saws and As one might expect, these new designs case eventually surfaced was responsible
fortunately those manufacturers have yet to and kit are tested both in the laboratory years ago for smothering news and
be subjected to tariffs so purchase stock now! and in field exercises. Testing such information on cases of severe acute
Further blow-back from The Pumpkin’s equipment under real world(ish) respiratory syndrome or SARS, even going
lawlessness has been a decrease in military conditions is often referred to as so far as to hide the patients. Cases
readiness across the board as billions of operational analysis or operational continue to pop up but ground truth is
nuts are diverted to build a monument to testing/experimentation. Such testing may hard to determine.
stupidity. My sources inform me next include basic fit and function through to Due to antibiotics Yersinia pestis is
generation protective gear programmes are how well mission functions can be certainly not the scourge it once was,
being jeopardised. One may opine that the performed when a soldier is wearing such creating ‘great plagues’ (three in fact), even
current chemical, biological, and gear. This involves instrumenting the so there have been resurgences. As
radiological protective ensembles are good soldiers, collecting data, performing discussed here in my reports, the outbreak
enough. One could also argue that those in control studies, and generally trying to be on Vanilla island two years ago is now
the field, facing exposure to toxic scientific about the whole thing. described as ‘'The Black Year’ because of a
substances, would rather not wear As I have said previously, programmes substantial number of pneumonic cases (by
something merely ‘good enough’. which are not well understood or are proportion). Some have suggested this was
Numerous advances in material science, complicated (and thus not well understood due to lack of swift care.
miniaturisation of kit and knowledge of the by minions of bureaucratic orthodoxy) get Regardless, hiding cases of plague and
threat, need to be integrated into new cut. Programmes are now being told to then confirm them after the rat is out of
protective gear. In addition, as militaries perform operational analysis and testing as the bag is dangerous, particularly with the
are wont to do, various programmes fail to described above but without performing changing climate and the connection to
coordinate efforts, building pieces of kit any actual tests. Instead, models are the spread of diseases to areas of the
which should in the end fit together but do supposed to be created to describe these planet not normally equipped to deal with
not. One example is protective gear for air situations in silica. Creating a generalised them. For example, a vast area of
crew. New aircraft mean new advanced model depicting a soldier dog and then ‘undesirable’ GGH was inundated with
function head gear (one source tells me dressing up said dog in various kit and what was called a plague (not stopped by
there is built-in temple and cheek-pouch looking at, say, the potential thermal any walls, by the way) and cost GGH 86m
massage) and often this new gear is not burden is completely possible. But any nuts in damages. One particularly jocular
compatible with exising protective fittings. output from the model on new gear with poster on GGH social media suggested
The complexity of the new helmets means novel materials would be completely that as next year is The Year of the Rat,
protective measures are adapted to them untrustworthy (and that is being kind). the plague is sure to follow, having had
and not the other way around. Furthermore, new gear presents challenges similar related diseases the last two years
In addition to mask and helmet fittings, when it comes to performing tasks, so (rooster sneezies and swine fever).
body suits and related gear benefit from what level of impediment does the gear Meanwhile, cases of Disgusting Bloody
upgrades. Current gear (and likely such have on everything from fighting to Flux had been steadily declining in the
gear in the future) also has a limited shelf preparation of gear for deployment? Now Completely Undemocratic Unrepublic of
life. The options are to make more of the commanders get to guess. They get to the Jungle and authorities were just about
same or take the opportunity to improve. guess how long things will take to get to declare victory when machete armed
One improvement under consideration is done, guess how much the new protective assailants crashed into a treatment centre
incorporating sensors to monitor the gear will impede the dogs under their and butchered and injured those present.
physical state of the dog in the suit. These command, and how protective such gear Worse, a multi-national peacekeeping
physical parameters are then transmitted to might be, guess all sorts of things because force was ten minutes away from the
the squad leader or other person in charge. the budget has been drained to fund a attacked camp but did not arrive for three
All protective gear, by its very nature, market for reciprocating saws. hours, allowing the mayhem and death to
produces an added thermal burden. The In other news, the Great Ginger proceed unabated. More than 500 health
ability to monitor this burden in real time Hamster is having an issue with a Yersinia workers have been pulled away from their
allows a squad leader to quickly identify a pestis outbreak. As the citizens of GGH are centres to ‘safer’ locations and authorities
mate who is going to collapse or potentially not created or treated equally, this fear this will mean a renewed increase in
suffer worse prior to the event, enabling outbreak was in an area populated by less cases of DBF.
that soldier to be pulled back, placed desirable hamsters. Be that as it may, the
somewhere (relatively) safe, cool down and striking thing about this particular
recover. As an adjunct to such monitoring, outbreak is the number of cases of ’Til next I poke my head up.
some clever nameless scientists have pneumonic plague. There is also the Gabriel

The 10® Target Screen Kit
1 Test. 10 BioThreat Targets in less than an Hour.
With our RAZOR® MK II System and our 10 Target Screening Kit,
we are able to test for dozens of the most lethal viruses and bacteria,
including emerging infectious diseases in under an hour.
Learn more at www.BioFireDefense.com
CBRNeWorld_0519-BioFire-Targets.indd 1 11/26/19 11:06 AM

CBRNe December 2019

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CBRNe December 2019

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CBRNe December 2019 cover and spine v2:CBRNe December 2019 cover and spine v2 02/01/2020 09:31 Page 1

Impending mortality Unconventional Calculated risk

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

www.cbrneworld.com December 2019 CBRNe WORLD 1

8 33-36 Finding Closure:

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

2 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

CBRNe Convergence Boston 2020 37

55-58 HLS Indonesia 2020

Thermo Fisher Scientific 27

CBRNe World (ISSN No: 2040 - 2724, USPS No: 000 -

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

www.cbrneworld.com December 2019 CBRNe WORLD 3

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

4 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

www.cbrneworld.com December 2019 CBRNe WORLD 5

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

6 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

Locate, Identify, and Measure

Introducing the next generation of the world’s most

Visit flir.com/r425 to learn more

Anna Draws Stuff!

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

8 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

Blauer’s Multi-Threat ensemble is certified

Class_1_Ad_CBRNE_Mag.indd 1 10/4/19 3:05 PM

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

10 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

www.cbrneworld.com December 2019 CBRNe WORLD 11

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

12 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

NBCsys_IndividualProtection_210x148.indd 1 13/05/2018 17:27

deaths, 75million people infected and

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

14 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

CBRNeWORLD Chief Inspector Phil Vickers, from Lincolnshire police,

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

16 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

www.cbrneworld.com December 2019 CBRNe WORLD 17

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

18 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

20 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

Zoe Rutherford stands on the shoulders of giants

The weather gods were kind to us

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

www.cbrneworld.com December 2019 CBRNe WORLD 21

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

22 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

A great spread of speakers brought an interested audience to Nashville! ©CBRNe World

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

www.cbrneworld.com December 2019 CBRNe WORLD 23

Message from the Editor

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

24 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

Captain Chris Miller, operations officer for the British army’s

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

www.cbrneworld.com December 2019 CBRNe WORLD 25

CBRNe Convergence, Boston, USA, 2-4 November 2020 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2020

26 CBRNe WORLD December 2019 www.cbrneworld.com

Find out more at thermofisher.com/cbrne