Screening Smokes

TM 9-1300-277

with DM, and effective exposure may occur before the

eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Mild cough and

presence of the smoke is suspected. If the mask is put

soreness in the chest and moderate irritation of the

on after this minimal exposure, symptoms will increase

exposed skin are occasionally seen. Splashes of liquid

for several minutes in spite of adequate protection. As

in the eye are extremely painful and cause mineral acid

consequence, the victim may believe his mask is

burns with corneal erosions. Liquid FS on the skin may

ineffective and may remove it, thus causing himself to

cause painful acid burns.

be further exposed.

produces an immediate sense of suffocation and

irritation of the nose and throat, coughing, and choking.

(5) Self-aid: Put on the mask and wear it in

Prolonged exposure to low concentrations causes an

spite of coughing, sneezing, salivation, and nausea. Lift

elevation of temperature.

the mask from the face briefly if necessary to permit

vomiting or to drain saliva from the facepiece. Carry on

(5) Self-aid.

duties as vigorously as possible; this will help to lessen

(a) FM.

Wear the mask in all

and shorten the symptoms.

Medical treatment is

concentrations of FM smoke. Wash any liquid splash

seldom necessary since recovery is usually prompt.

off the skin with water. If spray or liquid splash has

c. Screening Smokes.

entered the eye, forcibly open the eye and flush with

water from the canteen or eye-wash station. Report for

(1) FM. FM (Titanium tetrachloride) is a

medical attention when the situation permits.

corrosive, heavy, colorless liquid which decomposes on

contact with moist air, yielding a dense white smoke. It

(b) FS.

Wear the mask in all

is so unpleasant to breathe that dangerous exposure is

concentrations of FS smoke. If the skin is splashed with

unlikely.

liquid FS, wash off at once with water. If liquid FS gets

into the eye, forcibly hold the eye open and flush with

(2) FS. FS (Sulfur trioxide-Chlorsulfonic acid

water from the canteen or eye-wash station, and report

solution) is a heavy, strongly acid liquid which, when

for medical treatment as soon as the situation permits.

dispersed in air, absorbs moisture to form a dense,

white fog consisting of small droplets of hydrochloric

3-3. CHEMICAL GROUP C MUNITIONS

and sulfuric acids.

a. Chemical Group C. This group consists of WP

(3) HC. HC (Mixture of grained aluminum,

and PWP for all practical purposes, They are both

zinc oxide, and hexachloroethane). On burning the HC

screening smokes and incendiaries. They are very

mixture, zinc oxide is produced, which rapidly absorbs

brittle and the exploding of the munition in which they

moisture from the air to form a grayish white smoke.

are used causes them to be broken into small particles

The more humid the air, the more dense the smoke.

which burn very rapidly.

(4) Symptoms.

(1) WP (White phosphorous) is a pale yellow,

waxy solid which inflames spontaneously on contact

(a) FM smoke irritates the nose and

with air to give a hot, dense, white smoke.

throat, but dangerous exposure is unusual. Spray

droplets can be injurious to the eyes but seldom cause

(2) PWP (Plasticized white phosphorous) is a

corneal injury. Liquid splashes can cause acid burns of

pale

yellow,

putty-like

solid

which

inflames

the skin and severe eye injury including corneal erosion.

spontaneously on contact with air to give a hot, dense,

white smoke.

(b) FS smoke exposure can cause

inflammation of the eyes, respiratory tract, and skin.

b. Symptoms. WP and PWP smoke in field

The symptoms are usually limited to a prickling

concentrations is harmless although

sensation of the skin, but exposure to heavy

concentrations or long exposures to ordinary field

concentrations, may result in severe irritation of the

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