MIL-HDBK-783

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                   MIL-HDBK-783, MILITARY HANDBOOK: CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL (CB) CONTAMINATION AVOIDANCE AND DECONTAMINATION (15 OCT 1990)., . This handbook is primarily for project managers, design engineers, and scientist who need an overview of potential threat agents, available decontamination and contamination avoidance countermeasures, and design systems that can operate effectively in a CB-agent-contaminated environment. This handbook contains six chapters. A brief description of each chapter follows: Chapter 1, "Introduction", briefly describes CB warfare history and agent threat effects on both personnel and material, and current countermeasures. Chapter 2, "Contaminants", describes agent properties, toxic mechanisms, and their threats. Also systems currently available to deliver and disseminate CB agents are discussed. Chapter 3, "Protection, Detection, and Contamination Control", introduces protection and contamination avoidance strategies. This chapter describes individual and collective protection equipment as well as support equipment and supply protection techniques. Detection and warning, an essential part of the contamination control strategy, is also addressed in this chapter. Chapter 4, "Decontamination, Methods, and Equipment", describes currently fielded decontaminants, equipment, and methods for personnel, equipment, vehicle, and aircraft decontamination. Levels of decontamination within the current Army doctrine are also discussed. Chapter 5, "Material and Design Considerations", describes the effects of both agents and decontaminants on materials and discusses the CB survivability requirements of the Army outlined in AR 70-71. Examples of material compatibility test data with CB contaminants, decontaminants, and design methods to reduce system current vulnerability to CB contaminan are discussed. Chapter 6, "Future Concepts". describes current U.S. Army development activities for providing new and improved decontamination methods to counter the current and future agent threats. Several decontamination concepts and their application feasibility are discussed.