ABSTRACT
Penetration (Absorption) Rates, Toxicity, Inflammation=Disease ............................... 613 III. Barrier Protection-Barrier Creams .................................................................................... 614 IV. Decontamination.................................................................................................................. 616 V. Summary.............................................................................................................................. 623 References ..................................................................................................................................... 623
This chapter focuses upon decontaminating skin exposed to chemical warfare agent (CWA). Although the protective equipment chapter discusses effective barriers to protect an individual, there is a high probability that the items may not be worn at the time of an attack. Consequently, the next barrier, the skin, becomes critical, but has a limited time before it allows an agent to penetrate. Rapid decontamination is of utmost importance, before the skin barrier is compromised. To best understand the process, this chapter will discuss military and civilian issues concerning skin exposure, the characteristics of the skin itself, medical protective measures, and evaluation of skin decontaminants.
