Information about the new CBRN Approval standard and the MSA Millennium Gas Mask
Government and industry representatives had been working on defining standards for protective equipment to safeguard individuals against airborne terrorist attacks prior to the events of September 11, 2001. Following that day’s attacks, efforts were accelerated with establishment of the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh, which took on the role of certifying new standards for CBRN respiratory protection and clothing. The new National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) CBRN standard for full-facepiece gas masks was issued on March 7, 2003. In conjunction with U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center it tests and approves devices as “CBRN compliant” and establishes very stringent testing and certification protocols for:
• Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents.
• Mask penetration and permeation.
• Carry and transportation.
• Use performance.
• Quality assurance.
The new NIOSH standards also establish:
• Performance requirements for protection against high concentrations of agents (the shortest period being 15 minutes).
• Parameters on environments and applications where masks are to be used, including warm zone environments (locations away from the highest concentrations) and crisis provisions (should terrorists deploy a secondary device as responders arrive at the scene).
• Representative degrees of agents,working on the idea that preparing for the worst potential in a family of chemicals would enable protection against the entire family of agents.
• Rules for testing service life, particulate efficiency, permeation and penetration, fit factors, field of view and interoperability.
• MSA has been an active participant and contributor to the process of determining these new standards and is considered to be a leading expert.
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear hazards which could be used in a terrorist attack
Chemical agents include cyanide, mustard gas, ricin, sarin and VX, each of which represents multiple sources of physical distress, some leading even to death. Certain chemical agents attack the central nervous system, disabling the body’s ability to control its functions and permitting muscles and organs to work themselves to death. Others attack the skin and mucous membranes on contact, causing severe blistering.
Radiological and Nuclear threats include “dirty bombs,” or radiological dispersal devices combining conventional explosives like dynamite with radioactive materials in the form of powder or pellets. Classic nuclear hazards are those associated with the aftermath of detonation of a nuclear device. Radiation cannot be seen, smelled, felt or tasted by humans.
Biological agents include anthrax, botulism and smallpox. These agents are bacteria or viruses endangering the life and health of organisms, specifically human beings. Some multiply within the body to release toxins into the blood, others paralyze muscles, still others are severe and contagious viral infections.
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