DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

File: 123096_sep96_decls1_0079.txt
Page: 0079
Total Pages: 109

Subject: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS       

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003203

Folder Title: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS                                       

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         21













                                                         NA'I'O UNCLASSIFIED


                                                             CIIAI)TER 4


                                                       PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

                      GENEFLAL

                      401.    In the context o@ biological operations protection is taken LO riean
                      those measures by which respiratory      infection is prevented by denying access
                      of biological agents LO the lungs.       Hence the most important piece of
                      protective equipment is the protective mask.        Other parts of the body are of
                      lesser importance; the likel ihood of secondary infection from contamination
                      can be further diminished by using protective clothing which can be discarded
                      for decontamination.     Studies have shown that secondary aerosols resulting
                      from the removal of biologically contaminated clothing and from such body
                      parts as the hair reach suif icienc concentrations to cause infection via the
                      respiratory route if the protective mask is removed prior Lo removal of
                      contaminated Clothing or the taking ot cleansing showers.          The hair acts as a
                      reservoir of infectious aerosol particles and must be       'washed.   The same level
                      of protection may be actained in enclosures such as rooms, shelters, etc. by
                      providing efficient air filtration.       When discussing the different aspects of
                      protective equipment it is customary to distinguish between personal
                      (individual) protective equipment and collective protective equipment.

                      PERSONAL (INDIVIDUAL) PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

                      402.    a.   The Protective Mask - The functional part of the mask is the air
                      filter With its fittings.      Ic is known that particles mainly in the
                              size range I LO 5 microns' diameter reach the lower respiratory
                              tract.   Particles within this range containing live microorganisms are
                              thus the cause of respiratory infection and it is against these small
                              particles that the filter must be effective. The fibre filters consist
                              of randomly orientated fibres of various materials. The interstices
                              are on the whole much larger than the particles to be removed and the
                              filtering action depends upon the particles making contact with and
                              adhering to the fibres by inertial diffusional and electrostatic
                              forces. According to their filtering capacity for particles of 1 to 5
                              microns diameter, the filters are divided into 4 groups: the so-called
                              roughing filters (removing 10 to 60 percent of the particles), the
                              medium efficiency filters (removing 60 to 90 percent), the high
                              efficiency filters (removing 90 to 99 percent), and the UlLra high
                              efficiency filters (removing more than 99.99 percent). Only ultra high
                              efficiency filters are suitable for respirators. Such filters have
                              higher resistance to air flow than less efficient filters and Must be
                              discarded more frequently. Meticulous quality control during
                              production of protective masks is essential. It ijF also obviously
                              important to design the face piece of the mask carefully and to make
harcoal
                              filters are required for certain toxins.





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Document 109 f:/Week-36/BX003203/DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS/detection of medical defense against biological :1217960927452
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
Folder Seq # = 21
Subject = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 17-DEC-1996