Personal Protective Equipment for Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Hazards: Design, Evaluation, and Selection

Enables readers to understand how personal protective equipment is designed, evaluated, and selected to meet specific goals

Personal protective equipment is critical for anyone who may come in contact with health– and life–threatening chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agents. This book sets forth the underlying physics, chemistry, and physiology of these hazards and then explains how personal protective equipment is designed to protect individuals from contamination. Readers will discover how personal protective equipment is assessed and evaluated to ensure its safety and effectiveness, including examples of standard testing methods. Finally, the author offers principles to guide the selection and use of personal protective equipment in order to safeguard individuals from specific hazards.

Personal Protective Equipment for Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Hazards begins with a review of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents and the need for personal protective equipment. Next, the book examines:

Hazardous substances Setting high–level requirements Designing for appropriate protection and performance Protective equipment: concepts, components, and systems Performance evaluation and standard test methods Selection and use of personal protective equipment

Throughout the book, the author provides examples of available personal protective equipment and explores emerging concepts that are driving new research and product development. In addition, readers will find a listing and review of current standards governing personal protective equipment.

With this comprehensive review as their guide, readers will understand how personal protective equipment is designed and evaluated. Moreover, they′ll know how to select personal protective equipment to protect themselves and others from a broad range of specific threats.

Acknowledgements iv

Table of contents v

List of figures xvi

List of tables xx

List of abbreviations and acronyms xxiv

1 Introduction to CBRN protection 27

1.1 What is CBRN PPE and why is it used? 27

1.2 What are CBRN agents? 28

1.3 Context of use as it relates to design, selection and performance 31

1.4 Acquiring equipment 32

2 Hazardous substances 39

2.1 General overview of agents 39

2.2 Dose and exposure 40

2.3 Routes of entry 40

2.4 Forms of agent leading to exposure 44

2.5 Effects of hazardous materials 47

2.6 Chemical hazards 48

2.7 Biological hazards 54

2.8 Radiological/nuclear agents 68

2.9 Summary of dissemination of CBRN agents 72

3 Setting high–level requirements 76

3.1 Defining concepts of operations 76

3.2 Military operations 77

3.3 Domestic response 79

3.4 Hazard assessment 83

3.5 Exposure limits 90

3.6 Human factors and task requirements 101

3.7 Examples of high–level requirements development discussions 103

4 Designing for appropriate protection and performance 108

4.1 The hazard 108

4.2 Mechanisms of protection 111

4.3 Human factors 121

4.4 The environment 131

4.5 Materials and their selection 132

4.6 System Design 153

4.7 Modeling of performance and human physiology 169

5 Protective equipment: Concepts, components and systems 175

5.1 Terminology 175

5.2 Concepts of use 175

5.3 Respiratory protective devices 176

5.4 Dermal protective equipment (clothing) 194

6 Performance evaluation and standard test methods 207

6.1 Test selection as determined by life cycle phase 207

6.2 Issues that may prevent effective evaluations 209

6.3 Selection of test conditions 211

6.4 Designing methods and setting criteria 231

6.5 Sources of methods 245

6.6 Preconditioning and pretreating 246

6.7 Physical properties and survivability 248

6.8 CBRN performance 264

6.9 Human factors 286

7 Selection and use of PPE 303

7.1 Operational requirements 303

7.2 Expected levels of performance from various styles of equipment 305

7.3 Performance and selection standards and regulations 315

Bibliography 336

Index 374

EVA F. Gudgin Dickson, PhD, has worked in chemical, biological, and radiological protection for some twenty years. She is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and a Defence Scientist with Defence Research and Development Canada. Dr. Dickson heads a diverse group of scientists, engineers, and students who research the requirements, standards, and evaluation of chemical, biological, and radiological protective equipment as well as design new equipment. She has received three Technical Cooperation Programme Achievement Awards and the Canadian Standards Association Award of Merit.