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Incorporation of Fixative in the Decontamination of Litter-bound Patients Exposed to Bacillus Anthracis via Biological Surrogate on Human Manikin to Reduce Airborne Exposure in an Arctic Environment

Abstract No:

1650

Abstract Type:

Student Poster

Authors:

O Campos¹, J Slagley²

Institutions:

¹USMC, Dayton, OH, ²Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT/ENV), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

Presenter:

Omar Campos
USMC

Faculty Advisor:

Dr. Jeremy Slagley, CIH, CSP
Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT/ENV)

Description:

This presentation evaluates a cold-weather–tolerant fixative as a mitigation strategy to reduce secondary aerosolization during casualty handling. Using a full-scale clothed manikin contaminated with 1 µm biological surrogate particles, airborne release during disrobing was quantified with IOM samplers under fixative-treated and control conditions. Results demonstrated statistically significant suppression of airborne particles with fixative application. The study highlights an operationally relevant exposure control strategy for emergency response and cold-environment medical operations where traditional decontamination methods may be limited.

Situation/Problem:

Secondary aerosolization during casualty handling may increase occupational exposure risk, yet few studies evaluate suppression strategies during patient movement-especially in cold-weather environments where traditional decontamination is limited.

Methods:

To evaluate whether a cold-weather–tolerant fixative reduces secondary aerosolization during casualty handling, a full-scale experimental model was developed using a clothed human manikin as a patient surrogate. Garments were contaminated with 1 µm T2 bioluminescent microspheres serving as a biological surrogate. A total of 60 trials were conducted, with 20 full-scale trials included in quantitative analysis comparing fixative-treated and no-decontamination control conditions.

Re-aerosolization during controlled disrobing was measured using Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) inhalable aerosol samplers operated at 2.5 L/min and positioned at the patient head, operator chest, and lower extremities. Collected particles were quantified via fluorescence microscopy and ImageJ-based image analysis to determine particle counts per sampled air volume.

Data were normalized to air volume and analyzed using a Wilcoxon two-sample non-parametric test (α = 0.1) to compare treatment conditions. Results demonstrated statistically significant suppression of airborne particle counts in fixative-treated trials.

Results / Conclusions:

Fixative-treated trials demonstrated a consistent reduction in airborne surrogate particle counts during controlled disrobing compared to no-decontamination controls. Average suppression of secondary aerosolization was approximately 42%, increasing to 54% when an anomalous trial was excluded. Statistical analysis using a Wilcoxon two-sample test (α = 0.1) indicated a significant difference between treatment conditions (p = 0.0044).

These findings suggest that application of a cold-weather–tolerant fixative can measurably reduce secondary airborne particle release during casualty handling. While not a substitute for full decontamination, the fixative functions as an intermediate mitigation measure that may reduce occupational exposure risk when traditional methods are operationally constrained.

Core Competencies:

Community Exposure

Secondary Core Competencies:

Biological Hazards

Risk Management

Keywords

Choose at least one (1), and up to five, (5) keywords from the following list. These selections will optimize your presentation's search results for attendees.

Aerosol and airborne particulate monitoring

Emergency preparedness and response

Radiation protection and monitoring

Risk assessment and management

Ventilation

Targeted Audience (IH/OH Practice Level)

Based on the information that will be presented during your proposed session, please indicate the targeted audience practice level: (select one)

Technician: Technician is a job title given to persons who are trained to assist professionals and practitioners with task-specific assignments. Technicians may collect air samples, operate direct-reading instruments, and provide other services based on specific training received and instructions received from professionals and practitioners.

Volunteer Groups

Was this session organized by an AIHA Technical Committee, Special Interest Group, Working Group, Advisory Group or other AIHA project Team?

Worker Exposure Data and/ or Results

Are worker exposure data and/or results of worker exposure data analysis presented?

Practical Application

How will this help advance the science of IH/OH?

This study advances IH/OEHS by quantifying secondary aerosol suppression during dynamic handling scenarios and demonstrating that fixation can serve as a practical exposure control when traditional decontamination is constrained. It contributes new data on inhalable particle resuspension and mitigation under operationally realistic conditions.