DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

File: 123096_sep96_decls1_0074.txt
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Total Pages: 109

Subject: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS       

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003203

Folder Title: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS                                       

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         21











                                                        NATO UNCLASSIFIED


                                                            CI]AIITER 3


                                                          DISSE,MINAFION

                    INTRODUCTION

                    301.    One could imagine that the rO-ULes by which infectious diseases are
                    normal ly spread - air, Water, food and insect Vectors - could be used for the
                    artificial dispersion of biological agents. However, dissemination ot
                    infective particles through aerosols, either in dry State or in droplet
                    suspension, seems the Most likely Method.

                    AEROSOLS -   AEROBIOLOCY

                    302.    a.   IntecL@ve aerosols

                                 ( 1 ) It has been experimentally proven that a number of pathogens,
                                 naturally transmittable through rouces other than air, are far more
                                 infective when the air route is used artificially. Classic
                                 hygienic procedures are, under this circumstance, ineffective.
                                 Furthermore, even for vaccinated personnel, (e.g., against plague,
                                 anthrax, smallpox) protection would probably be inadequate in case
                                 of a massive inhalation. Lastly, length of Lime for infection
                                 would be shorter the more the subject is engaged in physical
                                 activities which lead to a high breathing race.

                                 (2) infective aerosols might be spread either directly trom
                                 aircraft, ships or other mobile or immobile sources (Off-LargeL) or
                                 might be produced on-targel by Point source devices which could be
 could be
                                 employed  but are less suitable owing co losses of viability Of the
                                 organism  from mechanical or thermal injury.

                                 ( 3 )In a field trial, it was shown that an aerosol of Bacillus
                                 subtilis spores, selected for similarity to Bacillus anthracis,
                                 generated from a ship 3 kilometres offshore, over 3 kilomeeres'
                                 distance travel through an on-shore breeze, covered an extensive
                                 inland area.   Spores were found as far as 70 kilometres downwind
                                 from the source.

                                 ( 4) Biological agents in aerosols exert their effects mainly as a
                                 result of inhalation, but also, Lo a much lesser degree, through
                                 conjunctival passage. Direct penetration through the skin is
                                 negligible, except for toxins.      Particles with an average diameter
                                 bigger than 10 microns are stopped at a rate of approximately 50%
                                 by nasal fossae.   For particles with a diameter@ranging from 5 to
                                 10 microns, mucus and cilia in the tracheal and bronchial passages
                                 represent an effective rejection system; this is the mucociliary
                                 elevator.  This mechanism could, however, lead to an infective
                                 particle being swallowed when it reaches the pharynx thus infecting
                                 the digestive Lract.


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Document 109 f:/Week-36/BX003203/DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS/detection of medical defense against biological :1217960927452
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
Folder Seq # = 21
Subject = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 17-DEC-1996