Enhanced Contaminated Human Remains Pouch: Initial development and preliminary performance assessments

Authors

  • Angela M. Iseli, BS
  • Hai-Doo Kwen, PhD
  • Mayeen Ul-Alam, MS
  • Mahalingam Balasubramanian, PhD
  • Shyamala Rajagopalan, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2011.0042

Keywords:

contaminated human remains pouch, emergency response, decontamination, chemical and biological warfare agent, toxic industrial chemicals

Abstract

Objectives: To produce a proof of concept prototype Enhanced Contaminated Human Remains Pouch (ECHRP) with self-decontamination capability to provide increased protection to emergency response personnel.
Design: The key objective was to decrease the concentration of toxic chemicals through the use of an absorbent and reactive nanocellulose liner. Additionally, nanomaterials with biocidal properties were developed and tested as a “stand-alone” treatment.
Setting: Private company research laboratory.
Patients/participants: Not applicable.
Interventions: Not applicable.
Main outcome measures: Production of a functional prototype.
Results: A functional prototype capable of mitigating the threats due to sulfur mustard, Soman, and a large variety of liquid and vapor toxic industrial chemicals was produced. Stand-alone biocidal treatment efficacy was validated.
Conclusions: The ECHRP provides superior protection from both chemical and biological hazards to various emergency response personnel and human remains handlers.

Author Biographies

Angela M. Iseli, BS

Microbiologist II, NanoScale Corporation, Manhattan, Kansas.

Hai-Doo Kwen, PhD

Department of Chemistry, Hannam University, Daejeon, South Korea.

Mayeen Ul-Alam, MS

Chemist II, NanoScale Corporation, Manhattan, Kansas.

Mahalingam Balasubramanian, PhD

Physicist, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois.

Shyamala Rajagopalan, PhD

Manager, Research and Project Development, NanoScale Corporation, Manhattan, Kansas.

References

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Published

01/01/2011

How to Cite

Iseli, BS, A. M., H.-D. Kwen, PhD, M. Ul-Alam, MS, M. Balasubramanian, PhD, and S. Rajagopalan, PhD. “Enhanced Contaminated Human Remains Pouch: Initial Development and Preliminary Performance Assessments”. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 6, no. 1, Jan. 2011, pp. 31-38, doi:10.5055/ajdm.2011.0042.