How To Decontaminate Specific Materials
How To Decontaminate Specific Materials
info extracted from US Army Field Manual 3-5, NBC Decontamination
- Cotton fabrics: chemical agents: immerse in boiling soapy water (1lb. soap to 10gal. water) for one hour, stir. Use 5% solution of sodium carbonate for G agents. Immerse in boiling water for one hour. Bio agents: boil in water for 15 minutes. Autoclave for 45 minutes at 123 degrees Celcius. Immerse in 2% household bleach solution for 30 minutes, rinse immediately. Launder. Nuclear: brushing removes contamination. Laundering is most practical procedure.
- Woolens: chem: Immerse in warm (100 degrees Fahrenheit) soapy water for one hour or longer with light agitation; dry items slowly. Bio agents: Launder. Nuclear agents: see above for cotton fabrics.
- Leather: chem: Scrub with hot, soapy water and rinse. Immerse in 120 degree Fahrenheit soapy water for four hours and rinse. Use 5% sodium carbonate solution for G agents. Aerate to dry. Bio agents: Immerse in 2% household bleach solution; rinse. Immerse in 2% peracetic acid for 10 minutes, rinse, aerate for 10 to 15 minutes. Wipe with 2% peracetic acid, remove excess, and aerate for 10 to 15 minutes. Nuclear: Brushing. Flushing with clean water or soapy water.
- Glass: chem: Wash with hot, soapy water. Wash with clear water or organic solvent. Blot off surface, aerate to dry. Bio agents: Wash with soap and water. Wash with disinfectant or 2% peracetic acid. Nuclear: Wash with detergent. Flush with water. Wipe with solvents.
- Unpainted metals (including ammunition):chem: Wipe with soapy water. Wipe with organic solvent and dry. Aerate. Bio: Wipe with soapy water. Wipe with 2% household bleach solution. Aerate. Nuclear: Brush or wipe.
- Unpainted metals (machinery): chem: See above for ammo. Bio: Wipe with 2% peracetic acid, rinse, aerate for 10 to 15 minutes. Nuclear: Brush or wipe. Wash with detergent. Flush with water.
- Mess gear and canned foods: chem: Immerse in boiling, soapy water for 30 minutes and rinse. Immerse in boiling water for 30 minutes. Wash in hot, soapy water, rinse, and aerate. Bio: Wash with soap and water, then immerse in disinfectant or 1/3 cup household bleach to 10 gallons water solution. Boil in water 15 minutes, immerse in 5% sodium carbonate (4lb. washing soda in 10gal. water), rinse with potable water. Immerse in household bleach solution (1/2gal. bleach to 25gal. water) for 30 minutes, rinse, aerate 10 to 15 minutes. Immerse in HTH solution (1/5lb. to 25gal. water) for 30 minutes, rinse. Nuclear: Wash with soap and water, rinse. Brush and wipe contamination from surfaces.
- Painted metals: chem: Wash with hot, soapy water and rinse. Aerate. Bio: Wash with detergent and high-pressure water stream. Steam clean using detergent. Use household bleach solution. Use 2% peracetic acid. Nuclear: Brush or wipe. Wash. Use organic solvents, caustics (except on aluminum or magnesium surfaces), complexing agents, or abrasives.
- Plastics (opaque): chem: Wash with hot, soapy water and rinse. Aerate. Bio: same as for glass. Nuclear: Wash with detergents. Flush with water. Wipe or brush.
- Plastics (transparent): chem: same as for opaque; blot to dry. Bio: same as for glass. Nuclear: Same as for opaque plastics.
- Rubber (impermeable): chem: Immerse in hot, soapy water for one hour, do not agitate. Rinse with clear water and hang up to dry. For G agents, use 10% sodium carbonate solution, rinse, and aerate. Apply hot, soapy water with brushes and rinse. Bio: same as for leather. Nuclear: Brushing. Scrubbing or flushing with water or soapy water.
- Rubber (natural and synthetic; gloves, boots): chem: Aerate. Wash with warm soapy water. Bio: same as for leather. Nuclear: same as for impermeable rubber.
- Rubber (mask facepieces and other rubber in direct contact with skin): chem: same as rubber, natural and synthetic (above). Bio: Wash in warm soapy water. Rinse in clear water and dry at room temperature. Wipe with 2% peracetic acid, wipe off excess immediately, aerate for 10 to 15 minutes. Nuclear: Wipe or brush off. Wipe off with water and detergent (avoid getting filters wet).
- Wood (unpainted): chem: Scrub with hot, soapy water and rinse. Bio: Weather. Burn. Nuclear: Wash exterior with large amounts of water.
- Wood (painted): chem: Scrub with hot water and rinse. Bio: Weather. Burn. Nuclear: same as for wood, unpainted. Wipe contamination from surface.
- Water: chem: Only by trained personnel. Bio: Boil small amounts for 20 minutes. Chlorinate. Add iodine water purification tablets. Nuclear: Flocculation. Ion exchange.
- Food (unprotected): chem: Food known or suspected to be contaminated should not be consumed until approved by trained personnel. Bio: Boil in water for 20 minutes, cook thoroughly. Immerse in or spray with 2% household bleach solution. Nuclear: Wash or trim contamination from unpackaged food.
- NOTE: Above have been added to this page assuming person has no access to military issue equipment. In some cases this equipment would be far more effective than methods described above.