RON™ Multi-TIC Detector

Introduction

In the period of time between March 16 and June 9 2015, the Assad regime in Syria conducted at least 23 air raids. Forty six chlorine barrel bombs were dropped in the province of Idlib, with over 500 Syrians affected by exposure to the Chlorine and tens of deaths from suffocation were recorded by the UN. Recently, ISIS has repeatedly used IED’s and mortars filled with chemicals, against opposing Kurdish, other forces as well as against Iraqi and Syrians civilians.  Mr. Brennan, the CIA Cheif, acknowledged on the CBS program 60 minutes that artilary shells with chlorine and mustard gas are avaliable and have been used by ISIS.

These facts support reports that ISIS has begun to adapt suicide bombs and IED’s to include chlorine and other chemicals. ISIS may begin to further exploit the use of chemicals as it develops new weapons and captures new Toxic Industrial Chemical. TIC, production or storage sites in Syria. Tasks such as fighting, rescuing people, providing medical care or protecting people become unmeasurably more difficult, if they have to be done under a cloud of toxic materials. Thus, early detection of potential exposure to toxic chemicals and the identification of the specific TIC used, can greatly reduce the number of casualties and the severity of their injuries. This will also help find the best way to manage the situation and simplify subsequent decontamination activities.

Presently, CBRN teams often use detectors for TIC and warfare chemicals, based on IMS (Ion Mobility Spectroscopy) or MS (Mass Spectrometry). Hand held and back-pack versions of these systems with prices that the range from $33,000 to $70,000 are available. These detectors are cumbersome, expensive to maintain, require specialists and well-trained users, in addition to a power source and time to power up and power down. These detectors often produce false positive identifications and thus require frequent calibration and expensive specialized sub systems such as databases and reference materials.

Many of the functions of the present detectors can be performed using small, light-weight low-cost non-electronic detectors for TIC. In fact, certain tasks can be performed even more effectively using the small TIC detectors. The small TIC detectors can be used by CBRN, HAZMAT personnel and first response teams as well as by military personnel. Moreover, they can be used by minimally-trained personnel in public places such as transportation depots without creating a panic.

Appealing Products Inc., API, developed and is offering two low-cost, instant detectors for Mustard Gas and Lewisite, the HD-08, and the five most used TICs, the RON™ Detector.

Who Should Use It

The HD-08 was developed for the US Airforce and was tested with HD by Battelle in Ohio.  The RON™ detection kit for TICs was developed by Appealing Products Inc., API, in the USA. The RON™ detector is very easy to use, low cost, sensitive, small and low-weight and thus can meet the needs of many groups including:

• First responders – identify if a TIC attack has taken place and the TIC that was used,
• Medical Personnel – Treating victims of chemical attacks.
• CBRN Teams – identify if it is safe to remove respirators after a TIC attack,
• Military Personnel – identify if a TIC attack has taken place and the TIC that was used,
• Civil Agencies – identify if a TIC attack has taken place and the TIC that was used, and,
• Commercial Companies – identify safe working exposure of many types of TIC.