A CASE OF ACCIDENTAL EXPOSURE TO CS AGENT - “AN UNINTENDED IMPORT”

Abstract

ISEE-490 Introduction: A number of people across Scotland reported feeling unwell following exposure to imported Italian furniture. Symptoms included itching and running eyes, rhinorhoea, a burning sensation on the face and hands and a burning throat. Grampian Police Force traced a delivery truck carrying the furniture and ascertained that deliveries had been made over several days to 15 separate locations across Scotland. Police enquiries confirmed that staff in various premises had suffered symptoms following the delivery of furniture. The truck driver also suffered symptoms and reported that during transit from Italy to Scotland, the inside of the truck had been sprayed with a chemical by ′unidentified’ officials. Police subsequently identified traces of CS agent residue inside the truck. An epidemiological survey was conducted to assess the extent of exposure to the contaminated furniture and the scale of illness associated with exposure. Methods: A survey was carried out of all premises to which potentially contaminated furniture was delivered. Two questionnaires were used. The first confirmed delivery of furniture items to the specified premises and determined the potential number of individuals exposed. A second questionnaire was used to obtain information on individual employees at each premises and to determine individual exposure and symptom histories. Results: Replies were received from 10 premises which took delivery of furniture from the affected truck. A total of 51 individual employees were present when furniture was delivered. Of these, 34 returned personal questionnaires; 23 reported contact with the furniture during or after delivery. A total of 21 employees reported symptoms on the day of delivery, however not all reported direct physical contact with the furniture (19 of 23 who had contact compared to 2 of 11 who had no direct contact). Reporting of symptoms was significantly associated with having contact with the furniture or packaging (p>0.01). Discussion: Use of CS agent as an anti-personnel agent in uncontrolled situations such as this example (officially sanctioned or otherwise) presents a contamination hazard to employees, recipients of affected goods and the general public. The use of CS agent as an aid to detecting unauthorised passengers in commercial vehicles crossing national boundaries should be discouraged. Government agencies and Law Enforcement agencies in the UK and elsewhere, as well as the transport industry need to be aware of the hazards associated with the uncontrolled or inappropriate use of CS and similar agents.