http://www.epa.gov/nhsrc/news/news103108d.html

EPA Technology Performance Summary:          Truetech M272 Water Kit for Toxic Industrial Chemicals

All Hazards Receipt Facilities (AHRFs) were developed to prescreen for chemical, radiochemical, and explosive hazards in samples collected during suspected terrorist attacks. The technologies used in AHRFs are intended to screen samples prior to a full analysis, helping protect responders, laboratory workers, and others from potential injury.

Evaluations of these technologies are  summarized in            the Technology Evaluation Report: Testing of Screening Technologies for  Detection of Toxic Industrial Chemicals            in All Hazards Receipt Facilities. The toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) included in the report were chosen because they might be used during, or develop as a by-product from, a terrorist attack.

The screening technologies are intended:

• To be rapid and qualitative
• To be simple to use and of relatively low cost
• To provide identification of hazardous samples

Not all of the technologies evaluated were deemed suitable            for the AHRF, although they might be useful for responders on the scene.

Technology  Evaluated: Truetech M272 Water Kit

Sample Type Evaluated for Indication of: Cyanide in liquid

Conclusions and/or  Recommendations:

• Truetech M272 reliably detected the presence of cyanide  in liquid samples.
• In terms of the speed and simplicity of liquid sample screening, the Truetech M272 Water Kit was found to be deficient. The multiple detection tubes and reagent tablets needed, and the requirement for 60 mL of water sample, make it unlikely that this technology would be suitable for the AHRF.

Technology Description: The Truetech M272 technology requires 60 mL of sample and uses reagent tablets, color tubes, and heating, which is provided by lighted matches. Results are qualitative and indicate only if the presence of cyanide is in the sample, not an actual concentration in the sample. More information on this technology is provided at [link omitted in EPA report]

Testing Methodology and Results: Because cyanide is water-soluble, water was used as a solvent. To simulate potential interfering sample matrices that might be encountered, samples were prepared using deionized (DI) water, in municipal tap water, and in DI water containing sodium chloride (i.e., 3.0% by weight). Each screening technology was tested with three blank samples and with three samples containing the cyanide. The summary of the Truetech M272 evaluations are provided in Table 1.

^a For a 50-mL sample, a cyanide concentration of 0.7 mg/mL equals one-tenth of the oral dose that would be lethal  to half the population (LD₅₀ ).