Army monitored workers for VX exposure in 1960s

By Patricia L. Pastore/Tribune-Star
April 8, 2004

The Army closely monitored and tested workers for possible exposure to VX during in the 1960s-era of production of the deadly chemical agent at Newport.

In production areas, every worker was checked twice daily by medical staff.

"They were looked over, questioned about their current well- being, and offered a visit with the plant doctor if desired," she said.

About 200 workers were checked for exposure to VX, said Terry Arthur, Army spokeswoman. Those workers were ones with any medical complaint -- headache, cough, sniffles -- who were known to be in areas where exposure was possible, Arthur said.

Army documents indicate about 55 workers were confirmed by lab tests and physical exams to have been exposed to the nerve agent. Reports said symptoms, if any, were mild.

"All of those workers were returned to work, usually that same day," Arthur said. "A few were administered atropine antidote. None of the exposed workers reported lasting effects or injury and some of them still work at the depot. This was before we had sensitive monitoring systems in place on the depot today."

The Army has safely guarded and cared for the lethal VX stockpile for more than 35 years without incident. The nerve agent is so deadly that a drop the size of a BB can kill in minutes, Army officials said.

"We had -- and still have -- an excellent safety record for storing and handling chemical agent," Arthur said. "With today's technology, we are able to offer a higher degree of safety for our workers, the public and the environment."

Today's more refined monitoring systems and newer technology offer even greater safety measures.

"They didn't have a fraction of the safety measures in place then as they do now," said Tom Linson, permits division of the Office of Land Quality for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. "Instruments that are in place at the Newport Chemical Depot disposal facility now were not even conceived back then. Air measurement has vastly improved over what it was in the 1960s."

Newport Citizens Against Incineration has repeatedly requested a third party look over the Army's shoulder during the VX destruction process.

Sara Morgan, a spokeswoman for that group, requested IDEM be present daily on the destruction site throughout the entire neutralization of the nerve agent.

"I don't want them there part time," she said. "They need to be there every day during the operation."

Pat Pastore can be reached at (812)234-6815 or pat.pastore@tribstar.com