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Evaluation of Chemical Warfare Agent Wipe Sampling Collection Efficiencies on Porous, Permeable, or Uneven Surfaces
Citation:
U.S. EPA. Evaluation of Chemical Warfare Agent Wipe Sampling Collection Efficiencies on Porous, Permeable, or Uneven Surfaces . U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-16/189, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
There are significant challenges with respect to sampling and analyzing porous materials (e.g., wood, drywall, tile) or permeable coatings (e.g., paint, silanized glass, plastics). Data are needed to support the effectiveness and recoveries from porous or permeable materials contaminated with persistent chemicals and agents. Porous/permeable/treated surfaces were evaluated to determine the capabilities, and limitations, for analyzing SAM-related chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and hazardous chemicals. Understanding data quality and limitations will allow for a level of confidence associated with the data and allow decision-makers (Federal, State, and local) the ability to quickly evaluate and rapidly respond to an incident and remediation efforts. Furthermore, if problematic surfaces (porous/permeable substrates) present challenges for obtaining these results, having available data to gauge approximate recovery results is extremely valuable. This specific investigation tested CWAs, including sarin (GB), soman (GD), cyclosarin (GF), sulfur mustard (HD), and O-ethyl-S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioate (VX) on porous and permeable surfaces (e.g., painted drywall, vinyl tile, wood, laminate, and coated glass. Pesticides (diazinon and malathion) were used so that a comparison is possible with existing literature data. Experimental parameters include multiple wipe types, porous/permeable surfaces, coupon surface area, solvent used to wet the wipe (i.e., wetting solvent), and the utility of internal standards for complex target analytes (CWAs).
Description:
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