Page 132 - JSOM Summer 2020

particularly during flood events. Dioxins disrupt normal hor- has been associated with higher air concentrations of coliform
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mone signaling pathways as well as reproduction and may bacteria and endotoxin in limited studies. If HPC is to be
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cause liver damage and cancer. Hydrocarbons including those implemented as part of a decontamination strategy, it should
found in jet fuel, fuel oil, petroleum distillates, degreasers, and be performed by personnel in a well-ventilated area with con-
many other products are common in urban and industrial envi- sideration given to proper personal protective equipment.
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ronments. Once absorbed through a working canine’s skin, ali-
phatic hydrocarbons in particular are preferentially distributed Conclusion
to fatty tissues and may disrupt neuronal membrane protein
function, leading to neurotoxicosis. Hydrocarbons can also Successful decontamination of common tactical canine equip-
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cause dermal, ocular, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary toxicity. ment was achieved in this study. However, data regarding
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Environmental contamination with heavy metals can occur in “successful decontamination” should be interpreted with cau-
the setting of structural collapse and fires, flooding, and in areas tion. A 50% reduction in contamination may still pose signif-
with industrial or mining operations leading to working canine icant threats to canine and human health depending on the
exposures. Heavy metals can also be introduced into the envi- toxins and pathogens encountered while working in a highly
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ronment from car exhaust, worn tires and engine parts, brake contaminated environment. Future work should apply a more
linings, paint, and rust and by other mechanisms. One study rigorous standard for “successful decontamination.” Addi-
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examined working dogs exposed to lead from firing ranges and tionally, procedures for capture of gray water should also be
found higher lead levels for dogs that were exposed. It is un- developed to prevent further spread of various contaminants.
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known whether the canine equipment was a source for continu-
ing contamination as the canine equipment was not assessed Study Limitations
for lead transfer. Heavy metal toxicity can affect multiple organ This study was conceived from existing practices and methods
systems and has been associated with cancer. currently used by FEMA disaster response teams. Supplies and
equipment are tightly controlled and packaged for transport
Contaminated water as commonly found in the aftermath of with strict requirements for weight and cache configuration.
hurricanes and flooding can also pose a microbiological threat Considering this, the authors limited the study methodology
to working canines. Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Salmo- to existing supplies and equipment available during a stan-
nella, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium, and many other en- dard FEMA deployment. The standardized equipment used
teric microorganisms have been isolated in flood and sewer in FEMA operations may not adequately represent equipment
water. 17,18 Accidental ingestion of these organisms could occur available and employed in military or law enforcement opera-
during patrol or search operations, immersion in contaminated tions, although the fundamentals of decontamination apply to
water, or even through self-grooming behaviors typical of ca- most all disciplines of working canines.
nines, leading to gastrointestinal disease. Effective decontam-
ination of working canines and their equipment is therefore Future Directions
important in reducing microbial contamination and subse-
quent risk of infection. One study associated failure to remove These novel data are the first to report reduction of oil-based
the collars from working canines during a simulated deploy- contaminants from working canine equipment materials.
ment exercise with a high rate of failure for decontamination While none of the combinations tested during the first phase
at the throat area. Although limited evidence is available, of our trial demonstrated successful contaminant reduction,
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prior work suggests that canine decontamination techniques the introduction of a more vigorous cleaning method in the
are inconsistently applied across handlers. Furthermore, second phase improved the outcome. A better understanding
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leash and collar materials are variable across handlers with of the types of equipment materials preferred and predomi-
only anecdotal information available to guide selection pref- nantly used by canine handlers is necessary. More work is also
erence for inclusion in our study. Leather and nylon appear needed to investigate the effect of cleanser amount on decon-
to be predominantly used across the industry, but no data are tamination of canine equipment. Additionally, work to assess
available to determine suitable alternative materials that may protocols and training involved in canine equipment decon-
be more disposable. Disaster handlers deployed by FEMA fre- tamination should be performed. Law enforcement canines,
quently use the same leash/collar throughout an entire mission military working canines, search and rescue canines, and other
with no replacements available should disposal be necessary. canines in working disciplines may encounter unique and
different mission hazards leading to contamination of their
Although HPC was found to be a successful method of de- equipment. A better understanding of these equipment needs
contaminating both nylon and leather material, the equip- and differences in hazard exposure could lead to improved,
ment necessary to perform this may not be readily available discipline-specific working canine decontamination protocols.
throughout all deployment scenarios. Future work should in- It is also important to gain a better understanding of handler
clude investigations using smaller, portable HPC equipment proficiency in assessing canine contamination risks and re-
that may reduce size/weight of the required equipment. Fur- sponding with appropriate decontamination practices. Finally,
thermore, clean water sources for use in HPC may be difficult studies are required to identify potential risk to human health
to find in a disaster setting. Aerosols generated from the use as a result of cross-contamination from exposure to soiled ca-
of contaminated water and the disruption of contaminants on nine equipment materials.
equipment surfaces during HPC may further increase working
canine and human exposure to toxic chemicals, pathogenic Disclaimer
microorganisms, and bacterial endotoxin. Use of water con- The findings and conclusions in this manuscript represent the
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taminated with Legionella pneumophila for HPC has been opinion of the authors and do not necessarily represent those
associated with an outbreak of respiratory infection with this of the US Department of Homeland Security or the Federal
organism. HPC on farms and at wastewater treatment plants Emergency Management Agency.
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130 | JSOM Volume 20, Edition 2 / Summer 2020