A team of U.S. scientists has recommended pursuing a portable wipe capable of neutralizing mustard agent and other dangerous chemicals, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California announced yesterday (see GSN, June 13).
Laboratory scientists and researchers at two other organizations suggested basing such a wipe on a material developed at Texas Tech University's Institute of Environmental Health and Human Health. In addition to working against the chemical warfare agent, the wipe could also neutralize dangerous industrial substances in military and nonmilitary settings, the scientists said.
The U.S. military currently relies on Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion to neutralize dangerous chemicals, but the treatment is only effective against a handful of agents, according to the laboratory.
“By combining the existing military decontamination system with this wipe, there is promise for treating nearly every chemical. You’re in much better shape using both technologies than with either one alone,” LLNL chemical engineer and study co-author William Smith said in a statement (U.S. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory release, Dec. 3).