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Decontamination and management of human remains following incidents of hazardous chemical release

Authors: Veronique D, Hauschild; Annetta, Watson; Robert, Bock;

Decontamination and management of human remains following incidents of hazardous chemical release

Abstract

Objective: To provide specific guidance and resources for systematic and orderly decontamination of human remains resulting from a chemical terrorist attack or accidental chemical release.Design: A detailed review and health-based decision criteria protocol is summarized. Protocol basis and logic are derived from analyses of compoundspecific toxicological data and chemical/physical characteristics.Setting: Guidance is suitable for civilian or military settings where human remains potentially contaminated with hazardous chemicals may be present, such as sites of transportation accidents, terrorist operations, or medical examiner processing points.Patients and participants: Guidance is developed from data-characterizing controlled experiments with laboratory animals, fabrics, and materiel.Main outcome measure(s): Logic and specific procedures for decontamination and management of remains, protection of mortuary affairs personnel, and decision criteria to determine when remains are sufficiently decontaminated are presented.Results: Established procedures as well as existing materiel and available equipment for decontamination and verification provide reasonable means to mitigate chemical hazards from chemically exposed remains. Unique scenarios such as those involving supralethal concentrations of certain liquid chemical warfare agents may prove difficult to decontaminate but can be resolved in a timely manner by application of the characterized systematic approaches. Decision criteria and protocols to “clear” decontaminated remains for transport and processing are also provided.Conclusions: Once appropriate decontamination and verification have been accomplished, normal procedures for management of remains and release can be followed.

Keywords

Hazardous Waste, Safety Management, Civil Defense, Disaster Planning, Exhumation, Hazardous Substances, Biodegradation, Environmental, Humans, Autopsy, Guideline Adherence, Forensic Pathology, Decontamination

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    Average
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
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    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
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Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
10
Average
Top 10%
Top 10%
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