Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agents: Processes for Unknown Environmental Samples

Forensic Chemistry
Oral Presentation

Prepared by , A. Jestel, K. Shefcheck, T. Allan, S. Ostazeski

Contact Information: joy.m.ginter.civ@mail.mil; 410-436-7118


ABSTRACT

ECBC’s Forensic Analytical Center is one of two Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) designated laboratories in the United States for the analysis of environmental samples. With this designation comes the responsibility of being able to analyze environmental samples for the presence of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and their precursors and degradation products in a timely manner. The Forensic Analytical Center employs a host of analytical techniques when determining the composition of unknown samples including element-specific screening methods, spectroscopic techniques, and mass spectrometric based techniques. This presentation will provide an overview of the analytical process the laboratory follows when analyzing unknown environmental samples during an OPCW proficiency test period.

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited