Findings from the PHOENIX Project: ‘Protocols for Hair and the Optimisation of Existing and Novel Decontamination Interventions Through Experimentation’

The PHOENIX project included a series of five volunteer trials to investigate the effectiveness of current UK mass decontamination protocols at removing simulants of chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. The protocols were based around the UK initial operation response and specialist operational response (SOR) protocols. The former was further divided into either improvised dry or improved wet (rinse-wipe-rinse) protocols with or without a ‘ladder pipe’ shower corridor. The trials investigated the removal of methyl salicylate (MeS), benzyl salicylate (BeS) and fluorescent markers (Invisible Red S, Invisible Green S) from both skin and hair and found each intervention to be effective. Improvised dry and wet were less effective for hard-to-reach parts of the body (shoulder) even when used in combination (trial 1). This was largely overcome by inclusion of an interim shower (trial 2) and SOR (trial 3). Removal of simulants from hair and scalp was effective using all interventions (trials 4 and 5) and was significant for the more persistent BeS. PHOENIX was the first study to evaluate decontamination efficacy by measuring levels of MeS and BeS in urine. No significant decline in urinary excretion of either simulant was observed in any trial. This is a potential concern that needs further investigation.