In the evening when the French President of the Republic has just announced important measures to protect the population from the deleterious effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it seemed important to me to put in order all the information concerning this new coronavirus. Human coronaviruses Four coronaviruses are responsible for the second cause of respiratory…
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We have often spoken in this blog about biological agents and their possible applications as biological weapons. This is the case of Lyme disease, anthrax, smallpox, plague, prions, influenza or even Ebola. While the Covid-19 epidemic is on the point of becoming a pandemic, and authorities in all countries are mobilized to stop the progression…
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1- What is it about? In all areas, standards make it possible to measure the conformity of a product to a given use. This is the case, of course, of the ISO 27065 standard which determines the performance requirements for protective clothing to be worn by operators applying pesticides (phytosanitary) and for re-entry workers (those…
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Coronavirus Background They belong to the family Coronaviridae. These are enveloped viruses in which the nucleic acid is a single-stranded RNA. They owe their name to the presence of protuberances on their periphery giving them a “crown” appearance under the electron microscope. Pathogenicity A number of them directly infect humans (human coronavirus) and are found…
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Some professionals require CBRN protection even though they are already equipped with PPE that specifically protects them in the performance of their job: this is the case for deminers, (EOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal), firefighters exposed to toxic fumes, helicopter pilots or fighter pilots. Ouvry has developed an undergarment that can be worn underneath normal equipment…
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The media reports that when his verdict was announced, a convicted person attempted suicide by ingesting a toxic product that he had hidden in his clothes. The Amiens prosecutor states that “The ingested product (…) is a pesticide called Temik”. It is an extremely dangerous product whose commercialization is strictly regulated in France and Europe…
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We have already mentioned that the concept of weapons of mass destruction tends to be replaced by that of weapons of mass disruption (NBC-NRBce). After a new study of the bibliography, it appears that biological weapons are evolving very rapidly with new technologies and in particular those allowing genome manipulation: these new data are shaking…
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When a CBRN event occurs and there are casualties, the problem of transporting victims arises. At the same time as first aid must be administered, care must take into account the fact that these victims can contaminate their surroundings and cause cross-contamination, the dramatic consequences of which could be measured during the sarin gas attack…
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A recent article shows us that American researchers are interested in the intestinal microbiome of war fighters in order to improve their performance on missions. Microbiomes et microbiota The microbiome is the place where a complex set of microorganisms called microbiota develops. In humans, microbiomes from the nose/mouth/throat, skin, lungs, digestive system and vagina are…
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What is the problem? How to evacuate a victim contaminated by a chemical in an absolute emergency? This question can be asked either in a military context when a group of combatants is under fire from conventional weapons and chemical agents (chemical warfare agents or ICTs), or in a civilian context in the case…
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Farmers are subject to particular health risks, the main ones being accidental risks (machines…), physical constraints (noise, vibrations…), plant protection products, respiratory problems, biological agents and psychosocial risks (suicide). The handling of chemicals by farmers is undoubtedly an important activity of their profession and we will be particularly interested in personal protective equipment to protect…
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The lead of Notre-Dame The fire of Notre-Dame de Paris on April 15, 2019 not only almost destroyed forever one of the most beautiful jewels of medieval Gothic art, but its consequences raise an important environmental problem: lead poisoning. The spire inaugurated in 1859 by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was built of oak wood and contained 250…
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The main risks We have often talked on this blog about chemical events that have occurred accidentally or as a result of a terrorist attack Among these events, the sarin gas attack in the Tokyo metro is one of the most studied. The attack was carried out on 20 March 1995 and was initiated by…
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Recent discussions on social networks suggest that Lyme disease could be the result of a Pentagon experiment that turned out to be wrong! This is an opportunity for us to take an overview of this disease that still deeply divides the medical community. In a second step, we will try to show whether it can…
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In many situations, personnel may be in the presence of an unknown chemical substance. It may be a first responder on a mission during an intervention in a university chemistry laboratory (I have personally experienced such a situation!), a chemical waste manager who has just been informed of old full cans that have been dumped…
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Reading various articles about the development of chemical weapons by the German army, we can see that many German scientists, including 8 of them who have already been awarded or are about to receive a Nobel Prize, have participated in this work. But to what extent have they really been involved? Working on the biographies…
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Strange animal that the bat is! The only flying mammal (the flying squirrel can only glide from one tree to another), it is guided by an echolocation system by emitting ultrasounds (12,000 to 100,000 hertz) that it recovers the echo in its ears. With a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, it lives on average…
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The security police, who are responsible for maintaining security during the demonstrations that are taking place in our country, may have been targeted by jets of corrosive products such as strong acids. This is an opportunity for us to review chemical burns: how do the products work, what are the emergency treatments? A glimpse of…
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An article in Nature on February 26, 2019 reports that the United States has just adopted a new response protocol in response to an attack or following a chemical industrial accident, which is important for at least two reasons: The new protocol, including dry decontamination, will significantly improve the care provided to victims; It is…
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What is this about? In the case of contamination by chemical warfare agents, acidic projections or industrial chemicals, it is imperative to have a decontamination process in place to quickly remove dangerous agents from the surface on which they have been dispersed. Immediate decontamination (military concept) or emergency decontamination (medical concept) is generally carried out…
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In a mini-review published in “ADC Letters for infectious disease control”, Eto A. and Kanatani Y. explain how Japan is preparing for a possible bioterrorist attack. The strategy to make Japan “the safest country in the world” is based on a “Sakigake” pilot project to promote the development of innovative drugs and other medical devices….
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