Suspicious Substances

CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL AGENTS

The psychological impact of CBR weapons will extend far beyond their actual effect. The mere thought of imminent exposure to a chemical or biological agent, or radiation, causes fear in people. The most important things to remember regarding CBR weapons are the symptoms of an attack that will be displayed in victims.

• Chemical agent symptoms are generally immediate and widespread.
• Biological and radiological agent effects are generally delayed.

Quite often the observation of two or more people with the same symptoms will be the first indication of an attack or exposure. ALWAYS remember to protect yourself. If you become a victim, you cannot help others, and you add to the problem.

March 19, 1995
Tokyo

The nerve gas sarin was released in commuter trains on three different Tokyo subway lines by a terrorist cult group. Sarin was concealed in lunch boxes and soft-drink containers and placed on subway train floors. It was released as terrorists punctured the containers with umbrellas before leaving the trains. The incident was timed to coincide with rush hour, when trains were packed with commuters. Over 5,500 were injured in the attack and 11 were killed.

CBR AGENTS CAN…

• Be difficult to identify
• Have a tremendous effect in small quantities
• Be spread throughout large areas by natural convection or air-currents
• Remain in the air as vapor or aerosols or settle on surfaces. In many cases, a hazard can remain for hours, days or weeks if untreated. This requires that facilities be monitored and decontaminated before being returned to service.
• Be ingested, inhaled, injected or absorbed into the body

SIGNS OF CBR AGENT RELEASES

• An unexplainable pungent odor
• A suspicious package emitting a vapor or odor
• Abandoned, out-of-place aerosol or manual spray devices, i.e., fire extinguisher or garden sprayer
• A cloud, mist, fine powder, dust, liquid or fog with no identifiable or suspected source

SYMPTOMS OF CBR AGENT EXPOSURES

You observe two or more people suddenly…

• Experience difficulty breathing or cough uncontrollably
• Suffer a collapse or seizure
• Complain of nausea
• Complain of blurred vision

CBR EXPOSURE PROTECTION

The severity of CBR agent exposure depends on three factors: time, distance and shielding.

TIME

How long you are exposed to the agent will often determine the extent of your injuries and long-term adverse health effects. In most cases the faster you can get away from an agent once you are exposed, the better your chances of survival.

DISTANCE

The farther you are from a source, the better. In many cases, unless you are inhaling or coming in direct contact with an agent, you will not be exposed to it. By avoiding contact or moving away from the suspicious package or substance, you will greatly limit your chances of exposure.

SHIELDING

Many CBR agents can be blocked or partially blocked by various materials depending on the type of agent being emitted. A sheet of paper or layer of skin stops some agents, some are inhibited by clothing, and others require special protective clothing and respiratory apparatus. In some cases, if there is a release in a station, it may be best to shelter people in-place within a train and shut down the ventilation system instead of allowing people out into the contaminated area.

CBR DISPERSAL METHODS

The ability to identify a potential threat by recognizing the tools of a CBR terrorist is key to the prevention or mitigation of an attack. Dissemination devices are one such tool and can be categorized based on how they disseminate the agent or material.

BREAKING/IMPACT DEVICES

These are weapons that encapsulate the agent and release it when broken. They are optimally constructed from common items, such as light bulbs, balloons or insulated bottles, by inserting the agent and sealing the device. Some of the devices are deployed by throwing them at the intended victims. Others can be placed in a light socket and will break when the light is turned on. The device used in the Tokyo subway attack was a breaking device that was intentionally punctured by an umbrella, thereby releasing the agent - Sarin gas.

The device used in the Tokyo attack.

EXPLOSIVE DISPERSAL

This method uses an explosive to break the container and disseminate the agent. The device will look similar to an IED with the addition of a bottle, bag or other form of container. These weapons are usually configured with the explosive at one end of a tube so the explosion forces the agent out the other end, or with the explosive surrounded by the agent.

SPRAYING DEVICES

These devices also contain an agent reservoir, but rather than an explosive charge, they employ pressure to disseminate the agent. They can be point-dissemination weapons, such as an aerosol can, or a line source-generating weapon, such as a device incorporated into an automobile exhaust system. Examples of spraying devices include aerosol spray containers, garden sprayers or any kind of spray bottle.

RADIOLOGICAL AGENT DISPERSAL

Weapons are often developed to involve whole-body exposure to radioactive material (inhalation, ingestion) or contamination by radioactive material. This can be achieved by placing into a public place a radioactive metallic object that is emitting harmful radiation. Incidents involving either an explosion or fire will elevate the potential for the ingestion or contamination by spreading the radioactive material in the form of small fragments (dust) or smoke. "Dirty bombs" are intended to release radioactive material in this way.