ABSTRACT
The aim of decontamination is to rapidly and effectively render harmless or remove poisonous substances both on personnel and equipment. High decontamination capacity is one of the factors that may reduce the effect of an attack with chemical warfare (CW) agents. In most countries, such equipment includes means for individual decontamination, generally a mixture of chlorinated lime and magnesium oxide. The penetration ability of a CW agent can be enhanced when mixed with solvent. Today, there is an international development toward chemically resistant paints and materials, which implies that water-based methods will become more effective. However, the need for penetrating decontamination methods will remain for many years. The physical screening off of CW agents by covering them can be done in the terrain by spreading a layer of soil or gravel over the contaminated area. The effect will be improved if bleaching powder is mixed into the covering material.
