zNose Detects Sarin and Mustard Gas at Part Per Trillion Level
Electronic Sensor Technology announced excellent results of real nerve agent testing in China. The experiment was performed by EST’s distributor in China, Beijing R&D Technology, using a military facility in China.
This is the first time the zNose® has actually measured real nerve agents, simulants were used in prior testing. Sarin and Mustard Gas were detected at very low concentrations levels. The minimum detection level (MDL) for Sarin is 85 parts per trillion (ppt) and the MDL for Mustard Gas is 100 ppt. These levels are well below the concentrations that begin to cause effects in an exposed population.
The IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health) level is the concentration of a nerve agent that would cause immediate or delayed permanent adverse effects after 30 minutes of unprotected exposure. The IDLH value for Sarin is 30 parts per billion. (1 part per billion is 1000 times larger than 1 part per trillion) Based on the above data, the zNose would give an indication of a Sarin attack at levels 350 times lower than the IDLH concentration. Mustard gas is less hazardous than Sarin (a higher IDLH) and thus would also be easily detectable before it poses a serious threat. Some nerve agents such as Sarin are odorless and cause permanent adverse effects or even death well before exposure is realized. In order to save human lives, it is critical to have a detection system in place that can detect these gases at very low concentrations.
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