Workplace Chemical Monitoring - Occupational Health and Workplace Monitoring at Chemical Agent Disposal Facilities - page 17

adsorb these chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds on
activated carbon and send them to an off-site contrac-
tor for disposal.

would be expected for an equilibrium between liquid
and vapor. Furthermore, as currently practiced, this
procedure does not detect any agent breakdown prod-
ucts of potential concern.
The application of ion-trap secondary ion mass spec-
trometry (IT-SIMS) for the analysis of VX and its
breakdown products on soil and concrete and the analy-
sis of 2-chloroethylethyl sulfide (a simulant for HD
mustard) on soil have been described in recent litera-
ture (Groenewold et al., 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000). IT-
SIMS has the advantages of requiring a very small
sample size (only milligrams of solid) and no solvent
extraction. The method can identify breakdown prod-
ucts, as well as agents. The development of this method
or a comparable advanced surface analysis technique
to screen solid samples rapidly and sensitively for agent
or toxic agent breakdown products could significantly
improve detection and decrease the chances of worker
exposure during some routine chemical demilitariza-
tion operations and many facility closure procedures.

SOLIDS CONTAMINATION: SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO CLOSURE

Solid secondary wastes that are known or suspected
to be contaminated with agent—such as activated car-
bon, DPE suits, and tools—must be safely disposed of
during operations and closure. Contaminated soils and
concrete, particularly concrete from the MDB, will be
a concern during closure. The Army's standard method
of determining the level of agent contamination on sol-
ids is to put them into a closed drum or other vessel at
70ºF, wait four hours, and analyze for agent in the head
space (U.S. Army, 1997a). Although this procedure
may be acceptable for contaminated steel or DPE suits,
it may not be satisfactory for contaminated carbon, soil,
or concrete, where the strong adsorption of agent may
reduce vapor pressures to values much lower than