Detonation of a bomb on a beach in Wales last week appears to have exposed two British army soldiers to mustard blister agent, the Western Mail reported yesterday (see GSN, March 27, 2007).
Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team members were called to handle a munition discovered on a beach on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales. They conducted a controlled detonation of the weapon on Sept. 24.
Two soldiers grew sick three days later, with their skin showing signs of contact with a limited amount of mustard agent after the bomb was blown up, according to the British Defense Ministry. The soldiers underwent hospital treatment and then sent home.
Part of the beach has been closed to visitors. Incident control personnel have cleansed the area, but it remains to be seen whether the danger of exposure has passed.
"We are aware of the potential health risks associated with exposure to sulfur mustard exposure, but consider the risks to be low in this instance," said National Public Health Service environmental health protection contractor Huw Brunt. “Nevertheless, if visitors to the affected area of beach between [Sept. 24 and 28] have developed symptoms or have any health-related concerns, they should contact their [doctor] as soon as possible for advice."
Among the indications of mustard agent exposure are irritation to skin and eyes, blistering of the skin, fever, headache and nausea.
The British Royal Air Force conducted bombing drills on the beach in question, at Whiteford Sands, during World War II, according to the Mail. Mustard-agent shells and other munitions were also said to have been fired in the area (Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail/WalesOnline, Sept. 30).