Step 5.
The blister agent section of the sampler will turn
purple/blue if HD is present.
No color change indicates
the absence of HD.
WARNING
Do not use an outdated sampler, because it will give unreliable
test indications.
(4) Decontamination.
Decontamination can be accomplished by using
STB, fire, or DS2. Liquid agent on the skin may be decontaminated by use of
the M280 or the M291 Skin Decontamination Kit or the new M258A1 Skin
Decontamination Kit.
b. Levinstein Mustard (H).
This is mustard made by the Levinstein
process.
It contains about 30 percent sulfur impurities, which give it a
pronounced odor. The properties of H are essentially the same as those for
HD, except that sulfur impurities lessen its effectiveness and depress the
freezing point by 2 to 5.
c. Blister Agent (L). Lewisite is a dark oily liquid with a variable
odor (sometimes like geraniums). Lewisite is used as a moderately delayed
casualty agent and produces effects similar to those produced by HD.
It
also acts as a systemic poison, causing pulmonary edema, diarrhea
restlessness, weakness, subnormal temperature, and low blood pressure. In
order of severity and appearance of symptoms, it is a blister agent; a toxic
lung irritant; and when absorbed in the tissues, a systemic poison. Liquid
L causes an immediate searing sensation in the eye and permanent loss of
sight if not decontaminated within 1 minute with large amounts of water. L
produces an immediate and strong stinging sensation to the skin; reddening
of the skin starts within 30 minutes.
Blistering does not appear until
about 13 hours. Like HD, L is a cell poison. Skin burns are much deeper
than those caused by HD.
When inhaled in high concentrations, L may be
fatal in as short a time as 10 minutes.
(1) Detection Using the M256 Chemical Agent Detector Kit. Procedures
for detection of blister agent L using the M256 Chemical Agent Detector Kit
are described in the following steps.
Step 1.
MASK.
Step 2.
Remove one detector sampler from the kit.
Step 3.
Tear the protective bag and remove the sampler.
Step 4.
Perform steps 1 - 12 as described on the protective bag and
the kit instruction cards.
CM3404
2-6
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