NCJ Number
202517
Journal
Homeland Defense Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 6 Dated: September 2003 Pages: 44,46,47
Date Published
September 2003
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes some of the new technologies that can play a role in the decontamination and remediation that may be required after a terrorist incident.
Abstract
The decontamination process currently used by most first responder units is a technique that requires specialists to scrub and shower contaminated bodies. The Portable Decontamination Unit developed by Portable Decon Systems, Inc., (Richlands, NC) improves the decontamination process by using tanks that immerse bodies in decontamination fluid rather than showering them. This self-contained, portable system incorporates a body lift that allows minimal lifting and handling of a contaminated person. The system allows the decon agent to cover all surface areas of the body while increasing efficiency in the handling of more casualties. In order to improve the procedure for decontaminating large areas, Modec Inc., (Denver, CO) has developed a wide-area decontamination delivery system to spray Sandia foam over large areas to rid them of chemical and biological agents. The foam is easy to transport and deploy from a variety of vehicles. Pentek Inc., (Coraopolis, PA) has developed several decontamination systems that can remove decontaminates from the concrete and steel structures that compose buildings. RSG-Technologies, Inc., (Dover, NH) has developed a line of dry-ice decontamination devices. The product line, called ICEsonic, uses solid CO2 pellets to clean surfaces contaminated by radiological elements. The dry-ice blasters require a process that vacuums particles of dust or paint that are loosened from contaminated surfaces.