|
EXPLOSIVE AND PSEUDO-DRUG SIMULANT
MICROTRACE MARKING PENS
SOLD ONLY TO VERIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
AND DETECTOR DOG TRAINING COMPANIES. UNDER CANADIAN GOVERNMENT
REGULATION, NO INDIVIDUAL PURCHASES ARE PERMITTED.
Police officers, dog
trainers, customs officers and airport security inspectors, need
a simple method of depositing a trace sample of explosives and
pseudo-drug simulants. Until now, this has meant compliance with
onerous licensing, shipping and storage requirements.
Securesearch, Inc. is the exclusive manufacturer of a series of
fiber-tip marking pens, each containing MICROTRACE amounts of
different explosive particles, simulated G-agent, one of 7
pseudo-drug simulants, corpse scent and black mold scent, in a
volatile solvent. The metal-bodied markers operate on a
one-way release valve, activated only when the user applies
pressure to the tip, and draws it across the surface of an
object. The smear left on the surface, while invisible, can be
detected by a trained dog. The user dabs a small amount on a
surface, allowing 45-60 seconds for the carrier solvent to
evaporate. Then the dog can be trained-- or tested-- on the
residue. Deposits can be placed on porous and non-porous
surfaces, including wood, cloth, plastics, metal, stone, brick,
concrete, carpets, floor tiles, curtains, luggage, etc. The
residue will remain active and detectable for some time
depending on the ambient temperature, humidity, size of deposit,
depth of deposit, porosity of the surface and age of the marker
pen.
Available formulations include but are not limited to PETN;
RDX; TNT; EGDN; MMAN; Detonating Cord; Potassium Nitrate; o-MNT;
p-MNT, DNT; Nitroglycerin; Ammonium Nitrate; Potassium
Perchlorate; Sodium Chlorate; Sodium Perchlorate; Smokeless
Powder (Nitrocellulose); Black Powder; Dynamite; C4; Detasheet;
Watergel Explosives; and Urea Nitrate. The taggant explosive
DMNB used in Europe, is also available. Most of the explosive
formulations have now been approved by the Canadian Government
for sale within Canada. Some will require an additional special
application to obtain approval. Each pen contains a maximum 14
ml of solvent with dissolved explosives at various approved
levels. The maximum explosive concentration level depends on the
explosive involved, ranging from one microgram per microliter to
7 micrograms per microliter. In some pens the law sets no
maximum concentrations. Custom concentrations can also be made
within limits. One of our markers also contains G-Agent a nerve
agent simulant. The 4 Sigma Chemical drug simulants
pseudo-heroin, pseudo-cocaine, pseudo-LSD and pseudo-marijuana
are available from us as marker pens. We also have additional
pens, each containing methamphetamine, ecstasy and oxycontin
scents, corpse (dead body) scent for searches, and one
containing black mold extract, developed by our company. Users
can purchase control pens with solvent only, (either methanol,
ethanol or isopropyl alcohol in combination with water), for use
in dog training and testing.
The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (BATFE) have now
approved the explosive marker pens as NON-regulated items for
entry into the U.S.A. BATFE requires the same documentary
controls for the markers as for most other explosives, and
purchases must be channeled through our agent, HAZORD, in
Nampa, Idaho. For other countries, we can supply the Canadian
letters of authority and you can submit them to your appropriate
government agency that carries out explosive import approvals,
for a decision. The Canadian approvals authority is Natural
Resources Canada, Explosives Branch, Ottawa, Ontario.
The explosive trace marker pens have been Canadian
government approved, for sale in Canada. If you
wish to import them into another country, we can provide a copy
of the Canadian letter of authority, which you can use to assist
in applying for permission to import into your country. It is
the end-user’s responsibility to verify your country’s
importation and possession laws and regulations, prior to
ordering.
USE OF
SECURESEARCH, INC. MICROTRACE MARKING PENS
These markers have
an aluminum body and a plastic valve/fiber tip assembly. Each
marker is shipped with approximately 13 milliliters of carrier
solvent, containing either one of 26 dissolved explosives, one
of 7 pseudo-drug simulants, “G” chemical warfare agent, black
mold extract (frequently found in walls of buildings that have
been flooded, or exposed to high humidity, as in marijuana
grow-ops) or corpse (dead body) scent.
To use these markers, SHAKE
WELL, and then uncap the pen by twisting and pulling until the
cap comes off. The fiber tip is located above a one-way,
spring-loaded valve, in the end assembly. Apply the tip to a
surface onto which you want to deposit a trace line of solvent
with its dissolved active agent of explosive, nerve agent
simulant, or pseudo-drug simulant. Press the tip firmly onto
the deposition surface, as you draw the tip across the surface.
Pressing down on the tip releases the spring-loaded internal
valve, and allows the liquid solution to flow through the fiber
tip onto the target surface. A porous surface will absorb
solvent and its active agent. They will sit on the surface of
non-porous materials. If you wish to leave a very fine line of
liquid on the target surface, your pressure should be less
intense. This will allow the valve to open only partially, and
the amount that flows to the tip will be reduced.
Visually check the target surface, to see the width of liquid
solution that has been deposited. You may make a wider line by
increasing the pressure of the tip on the target surface. A
longer line will be produced if you draw the tip across a larger
area of the target surface. After trying it a few times, and
checking the surface before the solvent evaporates, you will get
a feel for the amount of pressure to use. Once the solvent
evaporates (allow 45 - 60 seconds), only a microtrace of the
active agent is left on the surface. If the surface is porous,
some of the agent will be deposited into the pores or grooves
below the target surface, and is more impervious to removal. The
pen contains no adhesive or oil. Therefore, once the solvent
evaporates, microtraces of the explosive or pseudo-drug agent
remain on the target surface only by natural adhesion. In time,
the agent will completely evaporate. It may be rubbed off
sooner, by friction through contact with other items rubbing
across the surface.
After each use, immediately
re-cap the marker pen firmly. The cap should be twisted and
pressed tightly so it is in intimate contact with the plastic
valve housing. The valve should not release solvent or agent,
and is designed not to leak in any position. Nevertheless, tight
re-capping, and upright storage in a cool place (refrigerated
if possible), out of direct sunlight, will ensure no agent
is wasted. Shelf life is 10-12 months.
To avoid
cross-contamination, use only one pen at a time. Replace the cap
of one pen on its proper valve housing before you uncap and use
another pen. Replacing the cap of a pen containing one agent
onto a pen containing another agent, will cross-contaminate both
pen tips. You
will then deposit traces of two different agents onto the same
target surface, until all transferred molecules from the cap
will eventually be washed off the tip by repeated applications.
However, there is no way of knowing when all cross-contamination
has been removed, so be cautious when replacing caps.
Avoid passing
one pen tip over an area where you have already traced a line
with another
pen containing a different agent, as this will result in
minor cross-contamination, and could confuse a detector dog.
DISPOSAL OF SECURESEARCH EXPLOSIVE AND PSEUDO-DRUG MARKER PENS
BY REMOTE BURNING
Securesearch, Inc. marker
pens are used to train and test canines in the detection of many
explosives, chemical taggants and certain narcotic drugs. These
have trace quantities dissolved in a volatile, flammable
solvent.
These products will become
depleted with use, and the contents tend to evaporate with the
passage of time. Recommended maximum shelf life under
refrigerated storage is 3 years. Under higher temperature and
humidity conditions, and heavy use, depletion of the solvents or
evaporation of the trace agents will be faster; the depleted
units will have to be disposed of sooner.
On the advice of the
Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory, these products
should not be disposed of casually in your garbage. All
explosives and volatile solvents carry an element of inherent
danger, even in trace quantities. Remote burning is the
recommended method of destruction using a bed of combustibles
which will produce little or no air pollution or soil or
groundwater pollution.
A bed of crumpled
newspapers, wood shavings, contents of a paper shredder, or like
material should be prepared on mineral soil, on a windless day.
The bed should be several inches thick and be designed to allow
free passage of air for thorough burning. There should also be
a combustible train several feet long, leading away from the
bed. This allows you to run for cover as the flame front heads
toward the main bed. You should be a minimum of 50 feet away
when the combustible train burns to the main bed of material and
pens.
Uncap each pen and place
it on the bed of combustibles, leaving at least 6 inches of
separation between them. With explosives -- even in trace
amounts -- there is always a chance of a detonation occurring.
Ignite the end of the train and run for cover. Burning should be
done in a remote area where the public does not have access
during the operation. Any remaining solvent inside will also
build up pressure when heated.
Kerosene or diesel fuel
will help ensure ignition and a longer burn time, when spread
over the combustible bed prior to ignition. However, use of such
liquid accelerants may violate provincial, state or federal
anti-pollution laws. Check first with your local or other
authorities for their recommendations on this matter. Remove
the carrying container for the accelerant to a safe distance
before igniting the burning train.
Once burning has been
completed and all ash or other residue from the pens has cooled
down, return to check that there are no intact pens. Any plastic
parts should be charred and as the pens are thin aluminum, will
probably be melted and distorted. The heat of the fire is
sufficient to destroy the solvents and the active drug and
explosive agents in the pens and on the labels.
When preparing the burn, do
not attempt to remove the valve assembly housing which holds the
fiber tip, from the pen body. Do not probe the inside of the pen
or its components with a metal object or anything else, as a
detonation is possible. SIMPLY REMOVE THE PEN CAP.
Pressure, caused by
internal heat buildup from the flames, will expel the solvent
through the fiber tip. This could produce a mild "rocket
effect", and that is another reason why it is necessary that you
retire to a minimum of 50 feet safety distance under or
behind cover. Your burning should be done in an open area
without any other combustibles nearby, including grass, trees or
buildings. There should be a minimum of 100 feet clearance
between your burn area and any combustibles.
NOTES ON DETECTOR DOG
TRAINING WITH SECURESEARCH MARKERS
Our explosive marker pens
were originally developed for training personnel on the use of
explosive vapor detection instruments. It was apparent that they
might also be suitable for training and testing detector dogs.
The products were designed
to contain explosives at a lower limit than concentrations or
quantities which would require storage in an explosives
magazine. In fact, it was felt that this product line could
replace training and testing with bulk explosives in many
applications.
Early in 1995, we provided
very minute concentration formulations, as “scratch and sniff
labels”, to canine handlers with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)
and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The dogs showed
only mild interest. It was obvious that in certain applications,
an explosive vapor detector instrument was more sensitive than a
dog's nasal apparatus for sensing or differentiating compounds
in such low concentrations.
If the labels were secreted
in a container, the dogs never detected anything. The active
agent quantity on a label was too small and the vapor pressure
was insufficient to exit from the seams of the container, where
it would be detectable by the dog. If the chemical area of a
label was rubbed or smeared across an exposed target surface,
occasionally the dog would be momentarily attracted to that
spot, then it would move on. The handlers did not feel that this
constituted a valid "hit" and suggested that the concentration
be increased. We felt that higher concentration marker pens
would be better for these tests than the labels. We have
temporarily discontinued manufacture of the labels, pending
further research and development of the concept to enhance the
effect we want.
In late 1995, and again in mid-1996, two new and higher
concentration level sets of test pen samples were sent to the
OPP for testing. They reported that dogs had to work harder
(than with bulk explosives) to find and alert on the new
samples, but they did work.
It is a peculiarity of the
marker pens that as they become depleted of solvent through use,
or by slow evaporation, the remaining explosive becomes more
concentrated in the remaining solvent.
This results in the deposition of more explosive on the target
surface with each application, as the pens age or after
extensive use within their recommended life limit. In practical
terms, if you draw a one-inch long comparison line with a new
pen and with a 9-month old pen, more explosive will be deposited
on the line with the older (or more often-used) pen than with
the new pen. The more concentrated amount of explosive residue
left by the older pen should attract a dog's attention from a
greater distance than the residue from the new pen.
The OPP reported that this
in fact did happen. With new pens, at the lower concentration in
the 1995 series of test samples, the dogs showed mild interest
if passing by the deposit area. With the same pens -- after a
few months, the now higher concentration (through solvent
evaporation) attracted more interest. It was found that, if the
dogs were slowly brought to and through a test area,
--within about 2 feet of the target deposit-- there was a better
chance that they would score a "hit". Tests were done using a
variety of target surfaces, such as couches, beds (including
urine stained), wall baseboards, carpets, curtains, concrete
surfaces, desktops and desk drawers, among others. They were
also done under a variety of environmental conditions including
heat, cold, rainy days, high and low humidity, indoors and
outdoors. The test protocols called for the handler to lead the
dog slowly though a general search area, narrowing the search to
specific locations, such as a multi-drawer desk. This can be
very painstaking work. If the dog has been trained primarily on
larger quantities of explosives, testing with the marker pens is
frustrating for the dog, as rewards are slow to come for the
amount of work output.
The OPP tests did not call
for such procedures as merely entering a warehouse with
thousands of containers, to see if the dog could detect the pen
trace mark from the entrance door. The volume of air in that
warehouse would dilute any microtraces evaporating into the air.
Nor were the dogs called
upon to do a rapid search of hundreds of pieces of luggage, as
in an airport setting where passenger luggage would be processed
in bulk in a cargo screening area, or at a customs checkpoint
where passengers were lined up with their
luggage.
In the last tests from
September through November, 1996 by the OPP canine handlers,
their detector dogs alerted on the new higher concentration
sample markers from as far away as 15 feet. (Previously, the
lower concentration level markers, averaging 650 nanograms per
microliter, resulted in the dogs alerting a maximum of about 2
feet from the target surface where the deposit was applied).
Further field testing by
the OPP, and research by the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration provided new information that we are passing
along to users. Hexane, alcohol and acetone, which we previously
used as carrier solvents for the explosives and drug simulants,
vary in their evaporation rates; they may leave behind confusing
residues. This becomes a real problem particularly with hexane,
if the trace mark is deposited on a piece of paper or cloth,
which is then hidden in a confined space. Among confined spaces
tested, were cardboard boxes, closed desk drawers, metal
containers, or a test target stuffed into a tight "stash" area
between a pipe and a wall. Under such confinement, hexane
appeared to be the slowest to fully evaporate or disperse into
the surrounding air. Acetone is also slow to disperse, but much
faster than hexane, which under some conditions was found to
take 5-14 days to fully disperse into the outside air.
Any residual carrier can be
becomes confusing to the canine. You should fan the target
material with a piece of cardboard for at least one minute, to
aid in solvent evaporation and dispersion of residual fumes.
This will ensure that only the trace explosive or drug simulant
is left on the target material. Only then, should you enclose
the target material in a tight-fitting container or jam it into
a confined space.
Furthermore, some types of
cloth and paper are manufactured with a surface stiffening agent
called “sizing”. F.A.A. tests have demonstrated a reaction of
the sizing substance with hexane residue (cyclo-hexanon)
producing methyl urea and polycarboxyuric acid. This
combination can fool a canine into thinking it is sniffing an
explosive. There is no way for the canine trainer to know
whether this result will occur with test materials, so we
have replaced all of the other carrier solvents with methyl
alcohol.
Published studies of
detector dogs searching luggage for explosives, show that
trained dogs require a certain minimum quantity to be contained
in sealed luggage for it to be detectable. Vapor pressure varies
among different explosives. EGDN and Nitroglycerin have very
high vapor pressures. Many other explosives have medium to
negligible vapor pressures, The quantity required to be emplaced
in luggage will vary with the type of explosive and the seal
tightness of the luggage seams and cover.
By way of example, if
you are testing for dynamite concealed in luggage, a miminum of
1/3 of a standard dynamite cartridge is generally required.
These 1-1/4 inch X 8 inch cartridges weigh 1/2 pound, and 1/3
of a cartridge equates to 1/6 of a pound of explosive, or
between 5 and 6 ounces under ideal conditions. Under less than
ideal conditions, more explosive is required for the dog to be
able to detect it. The SECURESEARCH marker pen fluid
reservoir holds a fraction of that amount of explosive in total.
Only a microtrace of the explosive dissolved in solvent is
deposited in any single pen stroke applied to a target
surface.
Thus it cannot be expected
that a dog trained to detect the vapor produced by a sample
thousands of times more concentrated than the pen application
mark, will detect the traces of explosive in that external mark,
or in a microtrace paper label concealed inside the
container.
Detector canines used by
some law enforcement agencies are trained primarily on bulk
explosives, and tested on bulk explosives. They are also
rewarded for finding bulk explosives. In an airport
setting, their daily work involves a fairly rapid search of up
to several hundred pieces of luggage at one time. It also
requires going over and through aircraft, including passenger
and cargo areas, and along the external skin of the aircraft.
Because of time constraints involving large numbers of
passengers and aircraft, the dogs must work quickly. They may
be exposed to several hundred of pieces of luggage at once, and
rapidly work through them to detect hidden contraband. The dog
knows that its handler expects it to work quickly.
Under such a training
regime, the dog will become frustrated if the handler attempts
to slow the dog down, holding it back and making it go over
each target piece very carefully, before moving on to the next
item. Because the dogs have been trained on relatively large
amounts of explosives (or drugs), microtraces such as are found
in our pens and labels will probably produce little or no effect
during such a rapid pass through bulk luggage. It is not known
whether the dog is missing the microtrace because it is
so insignificant, or is ignoring it because it is not as
strong as the sample it was trained on-- and was rewarded for
finding--and usually detects while working. All we know is
that dogs trained only on larger quantities of explosives, are
missing our microtraces --and they are not saying why.
This is not a criticism of
that type of detector dog training, and it should not be taken
that way. It is an observation we make which should be taken
into account if you intend to train your detector dogs with our
pens. The training technique, and the field application to which
you will put your dogs once trained, should be considered when
you are
deciding
whether or not to use our products in your program. We would
strongly suggest that if your dogs are trained from the
beginning to detect microtrace explosives or drugs applied to a
target surface, then they will be that much better when they
approach a concealed amount of bulk explosives or drugs. In
fact, they should be trained to detect both trace levels and
bulk quantities of explosives or drugs.
We discussed this situation
with Bill Grimmer, in December, 1996. He owns a Canadian
detector dog training company (Bill Grimmer Man-Dog Teams--
BGMDT K9) in Shediac, New Brunswick. He is also a Trainer for
the Texas Narcotics Control Program Detector Dog Task Force and
works with the Criminal Justice Training Center, in Fort Worth,
Texas. He has also noticed that canines trained on--and
rewarded--to alert only on trace quantities, may have
difficulties recognizing the overwhelming odor of a bulk
quantity of the same materials, perhaps partly through sensory
overload. Dogs trained exclusively on bulk quantities may ignore
or fail to recognize trace quantities, such as would be
found in a tiny surface smear on luggage--either through sensory
"underload"-- or because they have never been rewarded on trace
amounts. Perhaps the canines do not recognize the wide disparity
from the very faint trace scent to the overwhelming bulk scent,
as being the same scents. Thus, says Bill Grimmer, dogs
should be trained on both, because at some point in their
working lives, they will probably be called upon to detect both.
Bill Grimmer had tested our
earlier, low-concentration TNT marker pens. In one test project,
he used a dog trained the conventional way with real explosives,
then exposed him to "swipes" of the supplied markers. The dog
"indicated" on all swipes within a 1-hour time frame. Once the
swipes had aged for 6 hours, there was little if any indication
by the dog. He also trained a 10-week old puppy using the TNT
pen. Within 2 days, the dog was reliably indicating the swiped
areas.
He trains young dogs with
the marker pens, and introduces pens containing additional
explosives at scheduled intervals. Contact him at
grimmer@rogers.com
New York/New Jersey Port
Authority Police bomb squad personnel have also tested several
of our markers at JFK Airport in New York, in November, 1996,
with favorable results. Their one concern in using the markers
on luggage which will pass on to another airport after testing,
was whether a detector dog or vapor detector instrument at the
next airport would also pick up the remaining traces. In some
cases, they may be picked up, and in others, there may be no
residue left to provide a "hit". It will depend on the explosive
used, the size of the trace deposit "swiped" across the surface,
ambient temperature, porosity of the surface, whether there was
an attempt made by test personnel to clean the surface after
testing using an alcohol swab, and time between deposit and the
next test.
If there is a delay of
only one or two hours between tests in the two airports, and no
cleaning has been attempted, chances are high that the traces
will be detected at the next airport stop. If the delay is 6-12
hours, chances of detection drop considerably-- as dog tests
have shown with some explosive markers. However, some explosives
vaporize very slowly, and there could be a long-term residual
affect on surfaces where no cleaning was attempted. This has
been proven in U.S. aircraft where test bulk explosives were
used some months before, and detectable residues still remained
even after that time. Such a test was said to have been done on
TWA flight 800, giving false evidence leads when forensic
testing was done on crash residue in November, 1996.
The microtrace explosive
test marks applied to a surface from our pens will not detonate.
The bulk quantities that detector dogs are normally trained
on, are sufficient to detonate, and could seriously damage an
aircraft.
A dog trained to detect
microtraces, should be much more efficient at detecting bulk
explosives, after being exposed to training with both.
It is noteworthy that luggage may not contain explosives or
drugs but may have been handled externally by a person who had
contact with explosives or drugs. Fingerprints or smears on the
lock, cover and handle surfaces could contain microtrace
explosives or drugs. It is important to detect these people at
the screening checkpoint for further investigation, even though
their luggage may not actually contain the contraband
items.
A
NOTE TO U.S. PURCHASERS OF EXPLOSIVE MARKER PENS
IN OCTOBER, 1996,
SECURESEARCH, INC. APPLIED TO THE CHIEF, OFFICE OF HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS APPROVALS & EXEMPTIONS, OF THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (D.O.T.)
THE APPLICATION SOUGHT TO
OBTAIN EXEMPTION FROM REGULATION ON THE IMPORTATION FROM CANADA,
TRANSPORTATION, POSSESSION, AND STORAGE OF SECURESEARCH, INC.
EXPLOSIVE MARKER PENS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
IN OCTOBER, 1997, THE U.S. D.O.T.
EXEMPTED OUR PRODUCTS FROM ANY SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION
RESTRICTIONS. (HOWEVER, UNDER U.S. POSTAL REGULATIONS, OUR
PRODUCTS CANNOT BE SENT BY MAIL).
THE AGENCY WHICH REGULATES
EXPLOSIVES AND LICENSES THEIR OWNERS, THE U.S. TREASURY’S BUREAU
OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES (“ATF”),RULED IN
JUNE, 1997 THAT THE RANGE OF SECURESEARCH EXPLOSIVE MARKERS ARE
REGULATED, AND THUS SUBJECT TO ALL CONTROLS AND
LICENSING THAT GOVERN ALL OTHER EXPLOSIVES IN THE UNITED
STATES.
ON MAY 3, 2006, AFTER
REVIEWING THE PRODUCT AND PREVIOUS HISTORY IN USE SINCE 1997,
EXEMPTED THE MICROTRACE EXPLOSIVE MARKERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS AT 27 CFR 555.32. THE MARKERS, WHILE
STILL CLASSIFIED AS EXPLOSIVES, ARE CONSIDERED “SPECIAL
EXPLOSIVE DEVICES” AND ARE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF
27CFR, PART 555, WHEN USED ONLY FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE.
THEY HAVE TERMED THIS A “VARIANCE” FROM THE REGULATIONS. THIS
EXEMPTION AND VARIANCE WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT ONLY AS LONG AS
PURCHASERS/USERS DO NOT ALTER THE MARKERS IN ANY WAY, OR USE
THEM TO MANUFACTURE DIFFERENT DEVICES. ATF ALSO ADVISES THAT
THIS VARIANCE CONVEYS NO RIGHTS OR PRIVILEGES CONTRARY TO ANY
OTHER FEDERAL STATE AND/OR LOCAL LAWS.
SECURESEARCH, INC. MARKER
PENS CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING MAXIMUM TRACES OF EXPLOSIVES:
1. NITROGLYCERIN: 1 MICROGRAM PER MICROLITRE
2. EGDN: 1 MICROGRAM PER MICROLITRE
3. EGMN: 1 MICROGRAM PER MICROLITRE
4. MMAN: 1 MICROGRAM PER MICROLITRE
4. o-MNT:
NOT REGULATED IN CANADA; NO MAXIMUM. WE USE A MAXIMUM 1 MICROGAM/MICROLITRE
5. p-MNT:
NOT REGULATED IN CANADA; NO MAXIMUM. WE USE A MAXIMUM 1
MICROGRAM/MICROLITRE
6.
AMMONIUM NITRATE: NOT REGULATED IN CANADA; NO MAXIMUM. WE USE
A MAXIMUM 1 MICROGRAM/MICROLITRE
7.
POTASSIUM NITRATE: NOT REGULATED IN CANADA; NO MAXIMUM. WE
USE A MAXIMUM 1 MICROGRAM/MICROLITRE
8. DNT:
NOT REGULATED IN CANADA; NO MAXIMUM. WE USE A MAXIMUM 1
MICROGRM/MICROLITRE
9. RDX:
WHEN USED ALONE, MAXIMUM 3.5 MICROGRAMS PER MICROLITRE;
OTHERWISE GOVERNED BY MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION IN
PRIMACORD, SEMTEX, C-4 AND DETASHEET
10. PETN:
WHEN USED ALONE, MAXIMUM 3.5 MICROGRAMS PER MICROLITRE;
OTHERWISE GOVERNED BY MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION IN PRIMACORD,
SEMTEX, C-4 AND DETASHEET
11. TNT:
MAXIMUM 7 MICROGRAMS PER MICROLITRE
12.
TETRYL: MAXIMUM 3.5 MICROGRAMS PER MICROLITRE (approved
August, 2002)
13. HMX:
MAXIMUM 3.5 MICROGRAMS PER MICROLITRE (approved August,
2002)
THE MAXIMUMS SHOWN ARE THE
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE CONCENTRATIONS IN 14 MILLILITRES OF CARRIER
SOLVENT, THE CAPACITY OF ONE MARKER. ABOVE THESE LEVELS, THE
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCY REQUIRES LICENSED
POSSESSION, TRANSPORT AND STORAGE.IN THE MAXIMUM CONCENTRATIONS
PERMITTED, THE CANADIAN REGULATORY AGENCY CONSIDERS THESE
PRODUCTS ARE NEITHER EXPLOSIVE NOR HAZARDOUS.
HOWEVER, THE U.S. BUREAU OF
A.T.F. HAS TAKEN THE POSITION THAT EXPLOSIVES IN ANY
QUANTITY, EVEN AS LOW AS 1/10,000 OF A GRAM, MUST BE
REGULATED IN THE U.S.A.
SHOULD YOU WISH TO IMPORT
THESE PRODUCTS FROM US, YOU MUST COMPLY WITH B.A.T.F.
REGULATIONS. IMPORTATION MUST BE DONE THROUGH OUR U.S. AGENT,
HAZORD, IN NAMPA, IDAHO, AS THE B.A.T.F. “LICENSED IMPORTER OF
RECORD”, ALTHOUGH THE ORDER MAY BE PLACED WITH US.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON
LICENSED IMPORTATION, TRANSPORT, POSSESSION AND STORAGE, PLEASE
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEPT. OF THE TREASURY B.A.T.F. FIELD OFFICE,
OR A.T.F. SPECIAL AGENT GARY BANGS, CHIEF, ATF EXPLOSIVES
INDUSTRY PROGRAMS BRANCH, 650 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, NW, ROOM
7100, WASHINGTON, DC 20226 AT (202) 927-2060
Our U.S. licensee will record all U.S. sales for ATF inspection
in the manner required by them, even those sales where
Securesearch, Inc. ships directly to the U.S. customer from
Canada or those ordered by customers through other authorized
salesreps. We will file a copy of the sales invoice with
the licensee, along with the date/shift number, plant number and
lot number. This information will be kept on file by the
licensee, for inspection by ATF agents and for ATF return filing
purposes.
Our Nampa, Idaho sales
representative, HAZORD, Inc., is designated the “U.S. Importer
Of Record”. Hazord, Inc. has a U.S. explosives importer license,
from the Bureau of ATF.
Contact John Babcock at:
Hazord, Inc.,
P.O. Box 9142,
Nampa, Idaho 83652
Phone: (208) 463-1232 or cellphone: (208) 899-5500
email:
hazord@fiberpipe.net
The U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) has advised Securesearch, Inc. on
acceptable maximum quantities that can be shipped, and on the
labeling and packaging requirements for safe shipment. The
products have been assigned DOT certified exemption numbers
EX-9709141(for markers) and EX-9709142 (for “Scratch and Sniff”
labels). Our products cannot be mailed through the
U.S. Postal Service, due to explosive content or the flammable
nature of the solvents in the pens.
ATF requires the markers be
stored in a building or room with an intrusion (burglar) alarm
monitored by an outside monitoring agency. We suggest that they
be stored in a locked container—(preferably under
refrigeration), both for security and a longer shelf life than
if they were to be stored at room temperature or higher. If ATF
advises us that the markers must be stored in any particular way
to further reduce the chances of theft or misuse, then we will
supply this information to all purchasers.
Chart showing some typical
explosive vapor pressures at 25 degrees C.
DETECTION
COMPOUNDS
VAPOR
PRESSURE
CATEGORY
_______________________________________________________________________
The
equilibrium vapor pressure is expressed in parts per billion
(ppb) explosives to air
Vapor EGDN
(Ethylene Glycol Dinitrate)
60,000 ppb
Vapor EGMN
(Ethylene Glycol Mononitrate)
>60,000 ppb
Vapor MMAN (Monomethyl
Amine Nitrate) >60,000
ppb
Vapor o-MNT (Orthomononitrotoluene)
>200,000 ppb
Vapor p-MNT
(Para-Mononitrotoluene)
>200,000 ppb
Vapor NG
(Nitroglycerin)
409
ppb
Vapor
DNT (Di-Nitrotoluene)
145 ppb
Vapor TNT (Tri-Nitrotoluene)
9 ppb
________________________________________________________________________
Particulate
RDX (1,2,5, Trinitro-1,3,,5, Triamino)
0.006 ppb
(Plastic)
Particulate PETN (Pentaerythritoltetranitrate)
0.018 ppb
Particulate AN (
Ammonium Nitrate)
12 ppb
Particulate Potassium
Nitrate
No
vapors
Particulate Semtex
(Czech plastic explosive)
0.002
ppb
Particulate
C4 (U.S. & Canadian plastic
explosive) 0.00006 ppb
Particulate Detasheet
(Flexible sheet explosive)
<0.0001 ppb
Particulate Primacord
(Detonating cord)
<0.0001 ppb
From the chart, it is
apparent that EGDN and Mononitrotoluene explosives will quickly
start to evaporate when the marker pen is applied to a surface,
due to their high vapor pressure. The rate of evaporation is
strongly dependent on the prevailing ambient temperature. The
chart shows vapor pressures at 25 degrees Celsius, or
approximately normal room temperature.
The hotter the environment
becomes, the shorter the expected lifetime of the explosive
deposit on the marked surface.
The concentration of relatively volatile explosives decays
exponentially. Using a rough figure of about 5-10 minutes to
test a detector dog after marking a surface, the concentration
of some explosives on a hot surface in that short time may
become too low to alert the dog.
For less volatile
explosives like NG, DNT and TNT, the pen residue on the target
surface can remain for hours, depending on the size of the mark
and type of surface to which it is applied. The decay curve for
surface concentration versus time is slow, but again, surface
and/or surrounding temperatures are the main determining factors
for availability of the explosive, after applying a trace from
the marker onto the test surface.
For non-volatile
explosives, generally their residue will hang around on a
surface for several days. Even 20-30 degrees Celsius above
room temperature would not be sufficient to evaporate the
explosive from the surface. Thus, there should be no problem
detecting C4, RDX, PETN, TNT or Detasheet after 4 hours, 12
hours or even 48
hours.
Solvents:
Several solvents have been
tried, in order to dilute the standard explosive solutions for
use in the markers.
1. Acetone
2. Hexane
3. Methanol (methyl
alcohol)
4. Ethanol (ethyl
alcohol)
5. Isopropyl alcohol
("rubbing alcohol")
The “mother solution” is
usually supplied in methanol or methyl alcohol and a small
volume could be further diluted to the appropriate concentration
with any of the above solvents 1-5. The final dilute solution
is concentrated to the maximum concentrations allowed by Natural
Resources Canada, Explosives Branch. That is the Canadian
federal government regulatory agency for explosives.
Acetone, in particular is
known to adversely affect many plastic surfaces. Hexane and
acetone both have residual effects. They linger for long periods
and disperse extremely slowly when markers are used in confined
spaces with poor air circulation.
Thus, preference is now
given to diluting the mother solution with one of the alcohols,
where interaction with surface materials is low, and evaporation
is rapid, even in confined spaces or in still air. Methyl
alcohol is preferred.
SHELF LIFE AND AGING:
A potential problem arises
for certain users of the pens, and that is their limited shelf
life under elevated storage temperatures.
Solvents have a high vapor
pressure at room temperature, meaning that they are very
volatile and try to escape from their container through even the
tiniest gap. The marker pens are designed to be liquid tight,
but not vapor tight. Therefore, some seepage will occur over
time even if the markers are tightly capped. If we examine the
evaporation speed of hexane, we find that it has a rate of
evaporation out of the pen greater than methanol. The
consequence of this effect, is the INCREASING CONCENTRATION of
the explosive solution, both with the lapse of time and the
frequency of pen use.
It was also found that pens
should be shaken frequently prior to and during each use, to
help disperse throughout the solution any explosive that may
have settled out of the solvent.
The weight of the pen does
not change significantly during its useful life. An empty pen
weighs 9.70 grams. A filled pen weighs 18.4 grams. The net
weight of the solvent/explosive solution is 8.7
grams.
Over a long period, (10- 12
months with the pens we produced until 2001; up to 3-1/4 years
with our current model), much of the solvent could evaporate,
and by the end, there may not be any solvent left to enable
testing. Since the explosive portion of the solution is not as
volatile as the solvent, the concentration of explosive
in the remaining solvent will increase as time goes by.
Concentration will also be affected by the frequency of use.
If using our older style
pens with a black plastic cap, it is best to refrigerate the
pens at or just slightly above the freezing mark. This procedure
will reduce evaporation, as the solvent is less volatile at
reduced temperatures. Sealing the pens in a vapor-tight
container with an O-ring seal and threaded cap will further
reduce loss of solvent. We still provide these pens for certain
custom order requirements. Our new all-aluminum pens, with
aluminum caps, do not require refrigeration, but should not be
stored in excessively hot locations.
Our research chemist
consultant states that pens can be produced in the following
formulations, although at this time not all have been tested for
aging:
1. C4 plastic explosive,
RDX-based
2. Semtex-H (Approx.
50/50 RDX/PETN)
3. NG (Nitroglycerin,
stabilized)
4. PETN (Pentaerythritoltetranitrate)
5. Detasheet (either RDX
based or PETN based ) sheet explosive
6. NH4NO3
/ aqueous
7. Potassium chlorate or
potassium perchlorate (oxidizers)
8. Sodium chlorate or
sodium perchlorate (oxidizers)
9. Black powder
(represented by potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate-- the
oxidizer component of
black powder)
10. Explosive gel / H20
(“Watergel”)
11. Smokeless Powder
(nitrocellulose) -- single or double base
12. DMNB (Dimethylnitrobenzene)
taggant
13. o-MNT (ortho-mononitrotoluene)
14. p-MNT (para-mononitrotoluene)
15. EGDN (Ethylene glycol
dinitrate)
16. EGMN ( Ethylene glycol
mono nitrate)
17. Ammonium Nitrate
18. Nitrourea
19. Commercial dynamite
20. TNT (Trinitrotoluene)
21. DNT (2,4 Dinitrotoluene)
22. MMAN (Monomethylammoniumnitrate
23. RDX (Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramene)
also known as Hexogen and Cyclonite
24. HMX (Cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine
or Octogen) introduced August, 2002 but not manufactured for
cost reasons
25. Tetryl (introduced
August, 2002 but not manufactured for stability reasons)
26. TATP (Triacetone
Triperoxide Breakdown Products, introduced December, 2005)
The marker pens are also
offered for sale containing the following drug simulant
scents specifically formulated and tested for detector dog
training:
1. Pseudo-cocaine
simulant scent
2. Pseudo-heroin
simulant scent
3. Pseudo-marijuana
simulant scent
4. Pseudo-LSD
simulant scent
Our consultant chemist has developed other drug scents, such as
methamphetamine, ecstasy and oxycontin,
for example. The pseudo scents do not use any actual
drugs but contain common drug breakdown products and other mimic
odors that are always present with the actual drugs, as they
decay. These odors are detectable by dogs.
However, the markers
cannot be used to test or calibrate drug vapor detection
instruments as they do not contain actual drugs, and are not
chemically similar enough to the real thing, to fool the
instrument.
Testing to date indicates
that the pseudo-drug markers have similar shelf life under the
conditions discussed above, to the explosive marker pens. They
are best stored under refrigeration in a sealed container.
NOTE: IN 2001, WE FOUND A MARKER PEN WITH A BETTER SEAL IN THE
VALVE ASSEMBLY. We began
introducing this all-aluminum body/valve/cap marker into our
product line, in 2002, to replace the original design. After
testing the new markers for evaporation, our chemist found that
the shelf life ranges between 2-1/2 and 3-1/4 years, depending
on storage and exposure to elevated temperatures. (The shelf
life of the earlier product was 10-12 months). The product will
probably completely evaporate from the new type pen, if it is
not used for 3-1/4 years. We now use only methyl alcohol as
the carrier solvent. It is a standard commercial grade, which
may contain amines, stabilizers, ethanol and isopropanol,
measured in very low parts per million. |
