Recent Advances in Decontamination of Chemical Warfare Agents

Abdul Wadood Khan; Sabna Kotta; Shahid Husain Ansari; Javed Ali; Rakesh Kumar Sharma

doi:10.14429/dsj.63.2882

Abdul Wadood Khan Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi
Sabna Kotta Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi
Shahid Husain Ansari Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi
Javed Ali Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi
Rakesh Kumar Sharma Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, New Delhi

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.2882

Keywords: Chemical warfare agents, contamination, decontamination, nerve agents, decontamination process

Abstract

The recent turmoil and volatile situation in many countries and the increased risk of terrorist activities have raised alarm bells for the field of defense against toxic chemical/materials. These situations poses threats to society as terrorists can take advantage of such situations to strike and cause public mayhem. A number of chemicals have the potential of being used as chemical warfare (CW) agents. CW agents could immediately kill or incapacitate the affected individuals even when they are present in very low concentration. CW agents should be removed quickly to minimize their deleterious health effect. There is no single decontamination system that can be used against all types of chemical warfare (CW) agents. The review briefs about different decontamination processes and approaches for chemical decontamination and also discusses about various decontamination products available globally.

Defence Science Journal, 2013, 63(5), pp.487-496, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.2882

Author Biographies

Abdul Wadood Khan, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi

Mr Abdul Wadood Khan obtained his MPharm from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India in 2009. Presently, he is a PhD Scholar in Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard, as a Senior Research Fellow. His areas of research include: Nano technology-based drug delivery systems, Enhancement of bioavailability of drugs and development of self usable decontamination formulations CBRN threats.

Sabna Kotta, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi

Mrs Sabna Kotta obtained her MPharm from University of Kerala, India in 2010. Presently, she is a PhD Scholar in Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard University. Her areas of research include: Nanotechnology-based pharmaceutical formulation development, enhancement of bioavailability of drugs and development of advanced CBRN technologies.

Shahid Husain Ansari, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi

Prof S. H. Ansari is presently working as Prof. of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry at Faculty of Pharmacy and Dean Students’ Welfare, Jamia Hamdard. He has successfully completed 10 major research projects and 05 are ongoing. He has written several textbooks and has contributed several chapters in books on Indigenous drugs and Herbal formulations of Indian and International Publisher. He has presented his research work in more than 75 conferences held in India and abroad. He has a list of more than 175 manuscripts in journals of repute and two Indian Patents.

Javed Ali, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi

Dr Javed Ali received his PhD (Pharmaceutics) from Jamia Hamdard, in 2000. He was a post doctoral Fellow at University of Frankfurt, Germany. Presently working as a Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutics at Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India. He has a list of more than 190 manuscripts in journals of repute and four Indian patents granted/applied. His research interests include the grazing patterns of nano medicines in brain targeted drug delivery, improving bioavailability of poorly soluble drug and he is currently working on formulations and study of novel approaches in CBRN threats.

Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, New Delhi

Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma is presently holding the post of Scientist ‘G’, Additional Director and Head, CBRN Defence at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Delhi. Dr Sharma has acclaimed various honours/awards including Young Scientist Award (1993) and Laboratory Scientist of the Year Award 2001, INMAS Team Leadership Awards (2003, 2004, and 2011), Chandra Kanta Dandiya Prize in Pharmacology (2004) and Jaipur Prize (2005) of the Indian Pharmacological Society. He has 8 patents and over 270 publications to his credit besides contributing 35 chapters in books and editing 13 books/monographs. Four technologies developed by him have been successfully transferred to Industry and are at the production or final stages of trials.