An Introduction to Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Threat Agents

Prepared forNational Cooperative Highway Research Program

Transportation Research Board, National Research Council

Prepared byScience Applications International Corporation

McLean, VA, tel. (703) 676-4559

As part of 20-59(19)Transportation Response Options: Scenarios of Infectious Diseases, Biological Agents, Radiological, Chemical and Other Hazardous Materials: A Guide to Transportation’s

Role in Public Health Disasters

Revised: September, 2005

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SPONSORSHIPThis work was sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, and was conducted in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, which is administered by the Transportation Research Board of the National Research Council.

DISCLAIMERThis is an uncorrected draft as submitted by the research agency. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in the report are those of the research agency. They are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board, The National Research Council, the Federal Highway Administration, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or the individual states participating in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program.

An Introduction to Chemical, Biological, and

Radiological Threat Agents

Revised: September 2005

DANGERTOXIC

CHEMICALS

“The question is, what levels of insanity do we have to prepare for?”

-- Joshua Lederberg, Nobel laureate

Descriptions, effects, detection, and general responses to:

• Chemical threats (Slides 7-14) • Biological threats (Slides 15-24)

• Radiological threats (Slides 25-32)

Contents

DANGERTOXIC

CHEMICALS

AGENTSSUMMARY CHARACTERISTICS

Time To Effects

Potential Impact

Availability

BIODays to Weeks

Local toGlobal Low

RAD Minutes to Hours

City to Region Medium

CHEM Seconds to Hours

City Blocks High

Summary Comparison

CHEMICAL THREAT AGENT FUNDAMENTALS

DANGERTOXIC

CHEMICALS

Chem-Agent Effects and Treatment

MITIGATION1. Minimize exposure:• Avoid chemical cloud• Cover face to filter

breathing2. Get medical attention:• Skin decontamination• Antidote

HEALTH EFFECTS• Disorientation• Dizziness• Nausea• Blindness• Serious Injury• Immobilization• Death

DANGERTOXIC

CHEMICALS

Some have no antidote!

Chem-agents may be solid, liquid, or gas.

Types of Chem-Agents

Persistent chemicals• remain on surfaces without evaporating or

breaking down for more than 24 hours

• can remain for days to weeks

Non-persistent chemicals• quickly evaporate and break down

• carried in bulk on commercial carriers

DANGERTOXIC

CHEMICALS

Some chem-agents are persistent, many are not persistent

Types of Chem-Agents

1. Nerve Agents – disrupt nervous system, causes paralysis, fatal quickly

2. Blister Agents – destroy skin and tissues, cause blindness, may be fatal

3. Choking Agents – lung fills with fluid, cause choking, quick or delayed fatality

4. Blood Agents – interferes with oxygen at the cellular level, fatal quickly

5. Riot-Control Agents – skin and breathing irritations, rarely fatal

DANGERTOXIC

CHEMICALS

Chem-agents are commonly classified by the type of harm they cause.

Exposure Pathways

Chemical AgentPathway

Inhalation Ingestion Skin or Eye Contact

Nerve ++ + + + Blister + -- + + Choking + + -- + Blood + + -- --

Riot-Control + + -- + +

DANGERTOXIC

CHEMICALS

++ Typical path + Possible path -- Unlikely path

Typical exposure path varies with chemical type

Chem-Agent Dose

Chemical Agent

100% Lethal Air Dose Quantity

Domed Stadium Movie Theater Boeing 747-400

Nerve 13 Gallons 2 ½ Cups 1.3 ouncesBlister 338 Gallons 4 Gallons 1 QuartChoking 780 Gallons 9 Gallons 2.3 QuartsBlood 520 Gallons 6 Gallons 1.5 QuartsRiot-Control 1820 Gallons 21 Gallons 5.3 Quarts

Note: A barrel holds 44 gallons; tanker trucks carry 1,000 to 12,000 gallons; rail cars carry in excess of 20,000 gallons.

DANGERTOXIC

CHEMICALS

Lethal doses vary among different Chem-agents

Chem-Agent Detection

• Some can be seen

• Some can be smelled

• Some can be tasted• Most can be felt (e.g. burning

sensation, choking)• All can be detected by appropriate

instruments

DANGERTOXIC

CHEMICALS

Chem-Agent Response

• Call in hazmat team

• Identify chemical agent

• Isolate and contain affected area

• Evacuate and shelter-in-place public

• Provide needed medical treatment

• Cleanup contaminated area

DANGERTOXIC

CHEMICALS

BIOLOGICAL THREAT AGENT

FUNDAMENTALS

The Bio-Agent Threat

• Some agents have NO vaccine• Some survive dormant in the

environment for weeks to years

• Many multiply in the body• Symptoms may be delayed

• Causes disease and death by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact

• Some are Contagious! (transferred from person-to-person)

1. BACTERIA– Single-celled organisms– Can reproduce– Antibiotic treatment

2. VIRUSES– Live inside cells – Need host to reproduce– Vaccine and antiviral

treatments

3. BIOTOXINS– Non-living (can’t reproduce)– Produced by organisms– Antidote treatment

Anthrax (Bacteria)

Ebola (Virus)

Ricin (Toxin)

Types of Bio-Agents

Bio-Agent Delivery

Overt -- Provides notice, creates panic…aircraft, bombs, missiles

Covert -- NO notice; spread may be unchecked for days!Spray fine mist (e.g., into HVAC)Spread on food, water, surfaces (e.g., mail, vehicles)Contagious people and animals

Attacks can be overt or covert – method of delivery is important!

Bio-Agent Dose

A tiny amount of Bio-Agent can be very potent!

• Inhalation of 1 to 500 bacteria or viruses can cause sickness and death.– 100,000 bacteria fit on a pin head

– 400 million virus fit on a pin head

• Inhalation of 0.000002 to 4.8 micro grams of a biotoxin can cause sickness – A sand grain weighs 170 to 13,000 micrograms

– Felt

– Detected quickly by instruments

Bio-Agent DetectionBio-Agents are identified through symptoms or

through time-consuming tests, because they cannot be:

– Seen

– Heard

– Smelled

Bio-Agent Indicators

• Many patients with same illness at the same time

• Symptoms unusual for age

• Type of infection rare to region

• Dead animals before humans

Since bio-agents are difficult to detect, it is critical to note indicators!

Bio-Agent Response

• Identify: Bio-Agent(s), source, area affected, population exposed

• Notify local medical facilities• Isolate and contain affected areas and

population• Treat -- provide vaccine or

medications to the affected population• Decontaminate affected areas and

population• Follow-on Treatment -- continue

medical treatment as appropriate

Bio-Agent Decontamination

• Physical removal-HEPA vacuum• Liquid decontamination• Foam decontamination• Emulsions• Fumigants

Different approaches for different situations,and multiple approaches for most situations.

RADIOLOGICAL THREAT AGENT FUNDAMENTALS

Artificial Sources of Radiation

• Medical Equipment• Radiopharmaceuticals• Industrial instruments• Food irradiation facilities• Nuclear research laboratories• University research reactors• Nuclear weapons • Nuclear power plants

Only artificial sources pose a significant threat.

Measuring Radiation

CurieAmount of

material

RemAbsorbed

dose

Half-LifeTime for decay to ½ the original amount

Cur

ies

Time

16

84

2

Radiation has unique measurement units.

Shielding from Radiation

α

β

γ n

Skin, paper, 1 to 4 inches of air

Less than ¼ inch metal, glass, concrete, 1 to 18 feet air

2 to 12 inches lead, 3 to 18 inches steel, 1 to 6 feet of concrete

[Alpha]

[Beta]

[Gamma or Neutron]

Radiation radiates in all directions and bounces of surfaces. Protective shielding varies with the type of radiation.

Radiation Detection

• Can not be seen

• Can not be smelled

• Can not be tasted

• Can not be felt

• Can be rapidly detected by instruments!

Protection from Radiation

1. Minimize Time

2. Maximize Distance

3. Maximize Shielding

Three rules for protection from radiation:

Indications of a Radiological Event

• Explosive release of fine powder or solid material• Skin reddening• Headaches• Nausea & vomiting• Hair loss• Weakened immune system

Explosions and symptoms of high radiation doses indicate a radiological attack.

Radiation Response

> 0.01 Rem/hour

> 10 Rem/hour

0.1 Rem < 24-Hour Dose < 5 Rem

24-Hour Dose > 5 Rem

Annual Dose > 2 Rem

Radiological Event

First Responders Stay Out

Shelter

Evacuate

Relocate

Average annual radiation dose is 0.5 rem per yearA typical single medical x-ray dose is around 1 rem

There are guidelines for first responder entry, sheltering, evacuating, and relocating people.

Response to a Radiological Event

• Identify presence of radiation beyond normal background

• Isolate and contain affected area -- mitigate spread of contamination

• Shelter-in-place or evacuate depending on dose rates

• Provide needed immediate medical treatment

“An emergency system that’s dusted off and used only during a rare event isn’t going to work.”

-- Tara O’Toole, Johns Hopkins