Evaluation of military field-water quality: Volume 3, Opportunity poisons
- ed.
The term ''opportunity poison'' refers to any substance that in military situations might be intentionally added to field water to deny its use; it implies that such contamination will be introduced as a spontaneous action, rather than as part of a preconceived plan. There are many different substances in military inventories and the civilian marketplace that, because of their availability and toxic or organoleptic properties (e.g., taste, odor, or appearance), can be considered potential opportunity poisons for field water. To identify these substances and indicate their relative importance from a military perspective, we present a categorization matrix in which classes of compounds are ranked according to their military significance as potential opportunity poisons. The categorization matrix was assembled by considering (1) the probable availability from military or civilian sources, (2) the possible water-related health or aesthetic effects, and (3) the potential impacts on water-treatment equipment of the principal constituents of each class of compounds. On the basis of the analysis, recommendations are made for US military forces to meet the threat of opportunity poisons by instituting guidelines and training programs that will (1) alert field forces to situations likely to involve the use of opportunity poisons and (2) define appropriated procedures for dealing with such situations. Quantifying the effects of the most important opportunity poisons (e.g., petroleum products) on field-water treatment equipment, particularly the reverse osmosis water purification unit (ROWPU), also is advised so that contingency plans can be made for operating and maintaining the equipment in the presence of such opportunity poisons. 149 refs., 8 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6903360
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-21008-Vol.3; ON: DE88016177
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
DRINKING WATER
HEALTH HAZARDS
MILITARY PERSONNEL
SOLUBLE POISONS
EVALUATION
BIBLIOGRAPHIES
CONTAMINATION
DETERGENTS
DISINFECTANTS
HERBICIDES
INSECTICIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
SOLVENTS
WATER QUALITY
ADDITIVES
DOCUMENT TYPES
EMULSIFIERS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GERMICIDES
HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR POISONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
REACTOR MATERIALS
SURFACTANTS
WATER
WETTING AGENTS
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552000 - Public Health
550700 - Microbiology