NYC-WTC_000152373

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

MASKS LITTLE HELP vs. CHEM-BIO BLITZ By GREG SEIGLE New Yorkers who. have pur­ wear a mask all the time, you are probably wasting your chased expensive gas masks to money getting one,” said Dr. protect themselves from a pos­ Simon Whitby, the head of sible chemical or biological ter­ peace studies at Britain’s Brad­ rorist attack have probably ford University. wasted their money, experts Although the prospect of bio­ say. logical and chemical attacks on Masks would be useless in the the city cannot be ruled out, top face ofnerve agents-that kUl on biochemists say it is highly un­ contact with the skin, the ex­ likely to happen'in the near fu­ ■: .. .S, ■ perts warn. ture. To be totally effective against The reason is that most chem­ a chemical attack involving ical and biological weapons are agents such as Sarin or VX gas, difficult to disperse with any a mask would have to be worn in conjunction with a fully pro­ widespread effect. “A chemical or biological at­ I tective body suit, experts said. tack that produces the number Full-face masks, which are in of casualties as the Sept. U at­ short supply in the city and be­ tacks in New York and Wash­ fore Sept. 11 were selling for $50 ington is highly unlikely,” said to $100, do offer some protec­ Mike Powers, the lead analyst IMI i tion against a biological attack. for a recently concluded bio- But wearers have to be diligent, terrorism study for the Centers the experts warned. for Disease Control. Biological warfare involves “Sarin and VX are more lethal the releasing of bacteria and vi­ but a good deal more sophisti­ ruses into the air. The spores cated, and therefore less likely can take up to three days to in­ for a terrorist to carry. Anyone FACE FACTS: A cop downtown wears a gas mask, which is cubate in the body before any who tries to load them in a crop more helpful against dust than any poison-gas attack. Reuters symptoms appear. duster will likely wind up dead.” That would require wearing a The big danger, experts like chemical or biological weapons The Department of Energy mask around the clock to lessen Powers agree, is smaller, iso­ that produce hundreds of casu­ and associated institutions and the chances of inhaling any le­ lated attacks in enclosed spaces alties, if any,” Powers said. industries have already devel­ thal pathogens that had been re­ like subways and shops. And the fight against weapons oped devices that can detect leased into the air. “What we’re more likely to of mass destruction is well chemical weapons. “Unless you are prepared to see are more simple types of imder way in the United States. With Post Wire Services

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