235
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
G. Sindona et al. (eds.), Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents, NATO Science
for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2041-8_20
Chapter 20
Detection, Identification and Monitoring
of Chemical Warfare Agents:
a Comparison Between on-Field
and in-Lab Approach
Matteo Guidotti, Massimo C. Ranghieri, and Stefano Econdi
When toxic chemical warfare agents, CWAs are used in criminal acts (terrorism,
assassination, sabotage) or in warfare, they represent a non-negligible threat to the
life of professionals and first responders (firefighters, law-enforcement or armed
forces, healthcare service, etc.) involved in civil protection and emergency operations [1]. Detection, identification and monitoring, DIM, procedures are an essential
step in responding to events involving CWAs, in order to obtain information on the
(supposedly) contaminated incident scene and prevent undesired exposure or any
form of direct contact between the operators and the toxic agent. In fact, not only the
recent alleged use of CWAs in the civil war scenario in the Middle East or in targeted attacks in Europe, but also the permanent risk of accidental release of industrial highly hazardous and/or toxic materials in major incidents have highlighted the
key role of an early and effective on-site detection of harmful agents [2, 3].
For this purpose, a prompt and on-site detection capability is crucial to: (i) detect
the presence of life- or health-threatening levels of hazardous contaminants; (ii) set
off a contamination alarm; (iii) gather information about the nature of the risk; (iv)
identify the concentration and the diffusion of the toxic agent; (v) provide a mapping of hazardous areas; (vi) define the personal protection and decontamination
requirements; and, eventually, (vii) declare the end of the emergency and give the
‘all-clear’ signal.
A broad variety of simple manual and conventional detection systems, such as
colorimetric hand-held reaction tubes, test papers, enzymatic assays and wetchemistry- based kits, is available on the market and, thanks to their limited cost, it
M. Guidotti (*) · M. C. Ranghieri
CNR – SCITEC, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta”, Milan, Italy
Unità CBRN, Corpo Militare Ordine di Malta Italia, Milan, Italy
e-mail: matteo.guidotti@scitec.cnr.it
S. Econdi
CNR – SCITEC, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta”, Milan, Italy
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
G. Sindona et al. (eds.), Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents, NATO Science
for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2041-8_20
Chapter 20
Detection, Identification and Monitoring
of Chemical Warfare Agents:
a Comparison Between on-Field
and in-Lab Approach
Matteo Guidotti, Massimo C. Ranghieri, and Stefano Econdi
When toxic chemical warfare agents, CWAs are used in criminal acts (terrorism,
assassination, sabotage) or in warfare, they represent a non-negligible threat to the
life of professionals and first responders (firefighters, law-enforcement or armed
forces, healthcare service, etc.) involved in civil protection and emergency operations [1]. Detection, identification and monitoring, DIM, procedures are an essential
step in responding to events involving CWAs, in order to obtain information on the
(supposedly) contaminated incident scene and prevent undesired exposure or any
form of direct contact between the operators and the toxic agent. In fact, not only the
recent alleged use of CWAs in the civil war scenario in the Middle East or in targeted attacks in Europe, but also the permanent risk of accidental release of industrial highly hazardous and/or toxic materials in major incidents have highlighted the
key role of an early and effective on-site detection of harmful agents [2, 3].
For this purpose, a prompt and on-site detection capability is crucial to: (i) detect
the presence of life- or health-threatening levels of hazardous contaminants; (ii) set
off a contamination alarm; (iii) gather information about the nature of the risk; (iv)
identify the concentration and the diffusion of the toxic agent; (v) provide a mapping of hazardous areas; (vi) define the personal protection and decontamination
requirements; and, eventually, (vii) declare the end of the emergency and give the
‘all-clear’ signal.
A broad variety of simple manual and conventional detection systems, such as
colorimetric hand-held reaction tubes, test papers, enzymatic assays and wetchemistry- based kits, is available on the market and, thanks to their limited cost, it
M. Guidotti (*) · M. C. Ranghieri
CNR – SCITEC, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta”, Milan, Italy
Unità CBRN, Corpo Militare Ordine di Malta Italia, Milan, Italy
e-mail: matteo.guidotti@scitec.cnr.it
S. Econdi
CNR – SCITEC, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta”, Milan, Italy