Abstract
AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS HANDBOOK No. 4 is entitled “Decontamination of Materials” (London: H.M. Stationery Office, 1936. 6d.), and deals with contamination caused by chemical substances capable of giving off poisonous gases. These gases are classified as non-persistent and persistent, the book dealing chiefly with the latter, which include the tear gases (ethyl iodoacetate or K.S.K., and bromobenzyl cyanide or B.B.C.) and the blister gases (mustard gas and lewisite). Decontamination of tear gases can be effected by using water, earth or a mixture of glycerin and caustic soda according to circumstances. Decontamination due to blister gases includes ventilation, hosing with water, removal by solvents, several methods of applying bleaching powder, immersion in boiling water, covering with earth, and destruction of the contaminated article by burning. In all cases, identification of the poison gas should precede attempts towards decontamination, and the latter should therefore be carried out only by persons specially trained and thoroughly protected. Appendixes in the manual deal with the equipment of a decontamination squad and methods of dealing with road surfaces, the structures of buildings, household articles and vehicles.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Air Raid Precautions. Nature 139, 64 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1038/139064b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/139064b0