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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Explosive anaesthetic agents. A regional survey on the use of ether and cyclopropane.

A total of 156 consultant anaesthetists in the North East Thames Regional Health Authority were circulated with a questionnaire on their personal use of ether and cyclopropane and their attitudes towards restriction or withdrawal of these agents: 144 completed questionnaires were received (92% response). Four anaesthetists (3%) claimed to use ether regularly at least once a month and 27 anaesthetists (19%) felt that their anaesthetic practice would suffer if ether were withdrawn. Cyclopropane had 62 regular users (43%) and 65 anaesthetists (45%) felt that their practice would suffer if it were withdrawn. Ninety-two anaesthetists (64%) were prepared to confine their use of explosive agents to either the anaesthetic room or the operating room; of these, three-quarters favoured the anaesthetic room. There were few notable differences in the pattern of use of explosive agents between anaesthetists with more than 21 years in the specialty and those with less than 21 years.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed2002

Composition of explosives by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

Commercial explosives are complex mixtures that contain not only the active explosive agent(s) but also a host of other organic and inorganic compounds. The ultrahigh mass resolving power (m/delta m50% >200,000) and mass accuracy (<1 ppm) of electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI FTICR) mass spectrometry allow for definitive identification of various species in TNT, RDX, and HMX. We are thereby able to correct prior misassignments of the elemental compositions of the most abundant negative ions from electrospray of RDX and HMX. Although the (known) active agents of many explosives may be identified by low-resolution MS or MS/MS, it is the other characteristic components (indigenous or artificial additives) whose presence and elemental composition can potentially identify the source of the product. ESI FTICR mass spectrometry of smokeless powder, TNT, and Powermite resolves and identifies numerous nonactive ingredients, many of which are recovered in a postblast residue. In contrast, the residue recovered from an explosion of military C4 yielded several species derived from RDX but virtually none from other ingredients.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Application of neutron generators for high explosives, toxic agents and fissile material detection.

The portable pulsed neutron generators developed and designed by VNIIA are presented. The neutron methods are good tools for non-destructive assay of dangerous materials. The samples of various systems for the detection of high explosives in luggage, identification of toxic agents in chemical munitions, and also for the prevention of illicit trafficking of fissile elements in passengers' luggage are discussed.

Chemical Terrorism↗
PubMed1980

The case for abandonment of explosive anesthetic agents.

The use of inflammable anesthetics in the United States has been debated widely over the past several years. Those in favor of continued use of these agents argue for educational use, professional freedom, pharmacologic safety, and the need to retain an option. Those in favor of a ban on such agents cite the lack of demonstrated pharmacologic advantage, diminishing physician expertise, risk of fire, and cost. The use of inflammable anesthetics has declined markedly over the past 15 years; in 1978, only 15 per cent of American hospitals were reportedly using them. However, we estimate that the use of inflammable anesthetics adds approximately $9.4 million to the annual cost of surgical care. As their use declines further, the cost per patient increases because most of the costs are fixed. We advocate a ban on inflammable anesthetics. Without definitive action on the part of policy makers, the use of these agents is likely to continue at a very low, and hence a relatively expensive, rate.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed2005

Mass spectrometry in identification of ecotoxicants including chemical and biological warfare agents.

Mass spectrometry is a unique tool to detect and identify trace levels of organic and bioorganic compounds as well as microorganisms in the environment. The range of potential chemical warfare (CW) and biological warfare (BW) agents is very broad. An important advantage of mass spectrometry over other techniques involves potential for full spectrum detection of chemical and biological agents including mid-spectrum materials (i.e. bioactive peptides, toxins, etc.) for which biological approaches are inadequate. Being very fast (seconds and minutes), extremely sensitive (zeptomoles 10(-21)), and informative (detailed qualitative and quantitative composition of mixtures containing hundreds of chemicals), mass spectrometry is a principal analytical tool at the sites of destruction of CW. Due to its unique features, mass spectrometry is applied not only for the detection of CW agents, but for the analysis of products of metabolism and degradation of these agents in organisms or environment as well. The present paper deals with some examples of successful application of mass spectrometry for the analyses of ecotoxicants, chemical warfare agents, explosives, and microorganisms including biology warfare agents.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Process analysis using ion mobility spectrometry.

Ion mobility spectrometry, originally used to detect chemical warfare agents, explosives and illegal drugs, is now frequently applied in the field of process analytics. The method combines both high sensitivity (detection limits down to the ng to pg per liter and ppb(v)/ppt(v) ranges) and relatively low technical expenditure with a high-speed data acquisition. In this paper, the working principles of IMS are summarized with respect to the advantages and disadvantages of the technique. Different ionization techniques, sample introduction methods and preseparation methods are considered. Proven applications of different types of ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) used at ISAS will be discussed in detail: monitoring of gas insulated substations, contamination in water, odoration of natural gas, human breath composition and metabolites of bacteria. The example applications discussed relate to purity (gas insulated substations), ecology (contamination of water resources), plants and person safety (odoration of natural gas), food quality control (molds and bacteria) and human health (breath analysis).

Bacteria↗
PubMed2004

Express analysis of explosives, chemical warfare agents and drugs with multicapillary column gas chromatography and ion mobility increment spectrometry.

Description of a gas chromatograph designed for express analysis of explosives (2,4-dinitrotoluene, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, pentaerythritol tetranitrate), chemical warfare agents (mustard gas, lewisite, sarin) and drugs (heroin, cocaine hydrochloride, crack) is given. The devices comprises a multicapillary chromatographic column and an ion mobility increment spectrometer (MCC-IMIS). The main analytical characteristics of an IMIS (estimated detection limit (DL), linear dynamic range (LDR), speed of response) and a chromatographic column (separation power, degree of separation, a number of possible peaks at a chromatogram section, divided by analysis time) are determined. The maximum value of DL equal to 5 pg/ml was registered for cis-alpha-LW, and the lowest one of 0.001 pg/ml was for cocaine. The maximum value of LDR equal to 1000 was registered for sarin and the lowest one of 150 was for the ions of lewisite. Speed of response of one compound detection with the IMIS was 0.7 s.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2002

Single-channel microchip for fast screening and detailed identification of nitroaromatic explosives or organophosphate nerve agents.

A single-channel chip-based analytical microsystem that allows rapid flow injection measurements of the total content of organic explosive or nerve agent compounds, as well as detailed micellar chromatographic identification of the individual ones, is described. The protocol involves repetitive rapid flow injection (screening) assays--to provide a timely warning and alarm--and switching to the separation (fingerprint identification) mode only when harmful compounds are detected. While micellar electrokinetic chromatography, in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), is used for separating the neutral nitroaromatic explosive and nerve agent compounds, an operation without SDS leads to high-speed measurements of the "total" explosives or nerve agent content. Switching between the "flow injection" and "separation" modes is accomplished by rapidly exchanging the SDS-free and SDS-containing buffers in the separation channel. Amperometric detection was used for monitoring the separation. Key factors influencing the sample throughput, resolution, and sensitivity have been assessed and optimized. Assays rates of about 360 and 30/h can thus be realized for the "total" screening and "individual" measurements, respectively. Ultimately, such development will lead to the creation of a field-deployable microanalyzer and will enable transporting the forensic laboratory to the sample source.

Chemical Warfare Agents↗
PubMed1994

A short history of fires and explosions caused by anaesthetic agents.

The first recorded fire resulting from the use of an anaesthetic agent occurred in 1850, when ether caught fire during a facial operation. Many subsequent fires and explosions have been reported, caused by ether, acetylene, ethylene and cyclopropane, and there has been one reported explosion involving halothane. Although some of the earlier incidents caused more consternation than injury, many of the later ones caused much death and destruction, particularly after the practice of administering oxygen, instead of air, became established. Many incidents have never been reported and many of those which have reached publication do not record essential details. The use of flammable agents has decreased significantly in recent years and although fires and explosions from nonanaesthetic causes, for example gastrointestinal gases, skin sterilizing agents and laser surgery, may continue to occur, those from gaseous and volatile anaesthetic agents may now be of historical interest only. This article reviews some of the more relevant and enlightening reports of the past 150 yr.

Acetylene↗