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Army investigates chemical contamination in Uzbekistan

by Jonathan Williamson

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, June 11, 2002) -- Chemical field tests at a U.S. base in Uzbekistan revealed traces of possible nerve and blister agents at three locations June 9.

Neither American nor coalition personnel at Karshi Khanabad Air Base have been diagnosed with exposure to the chemicals.

One possible blister agent site was discovered on a maintenance area of the base. The other chemical, a possible nerve agent, was discovered at the entrance to a former Soviet storage bunker, located near a unit headquarters building, as well as a remote area of the base that has not been occupied since January.

All of the sites were isolated and the chemicals contained immediately according to an Army official.

None of the sites pose an immediate danger to service members according to health risk assessment teams.

A risk assessment team, working with the host nation officials, evaluated the areas and decided that isolating and containing the materials would be more effective than attempting to remove them.

Other chemical contaminates recently found on the air base include hydrocarbon, which is found in petroleum, oil and lubricants.

The area contaminated by hydrocarbon will be contained with a "clay cap." This cap is clean clay, which was placed on contaminated sites to ensure that rainwater will not spread the chemicals. The cap will also prevent jet fuel fumes from escaping.

An assessment for chemical contamination was not done prior to forces moving onto the base as a result of the immediacy of the United States mission following Sept. 11, an Army official said.

"We moved quickly to this airbase at the invitation of the government of Uzbekistan. Because of the urgency of the situation following the Sept. 11 attacks, these assessments were not conducted prior to moving forces onto the airbase," the official said. "As we populated the airbase and received appropriate subject-matter experts, the assessments were initiated and corrective actions taken, such as the clay cap."

Officials said they will continue to monitor the personnel at Karshi Khanabad and assessment teams are monitoring the sites continuously to make sure isolation and containment of the area remains sufficient.

(Editor's note: information for this article provided by the 28th Public Affairs Detachment in the Central Command area of operations.)