Permethrin Uniform Treatment

1
Permethrin Uniform Treatment

• LTC Jamie Blow
• AFPMB

2
History

• A variety of compounds have been used since WWII
  to treat clothing.
• In the 1970s permethrin was identified as
  meeting the requirements for a clothing
  repellent.
• Extensive testing ensued to
• Evaluate it as a clothing repellent
• Determine optimum concentration
• Determine efficacy
• Develop methods of application

3
History

• All testing was conducted on the 100 cotton and
  50 cotton50 nylon uniforms.
• After extensive testing the Army submitted 3
  registrations packets to the EPA for the
  treatment of garments (IDA kits and 2-gallon
  sprayer) and fabric (pad roll method).
• In 1991, the EPA approved the registrations which
  are still held by the Army today.

4
Current

• Late 1990s commercial companies develop the
  capability to treat garments with permethrin.
• By the 2000s, new uniform fabrics with a
  variety of add-on treatments began to appear.

5
Army Uniforms

• Replaces BDUs with ACU in 2005
• 50/50 fabric with a wrinkle resistant finish.
• Tested and validated permethrin application by
  IDA kit.
• Fire Resistant ACU (FRACU) replace ACU as
  deployment uniform in Jan 2009.
• Tested and failed permethrin application by IDA
  kit.
• DA G4 issued FOUO not to treat FRACU by field
  methods 1 April 2008.
• Factory treatment methods evaluated.

6
Marine Uniforms

• Marine Corp Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU)
  introduced in 2005 as the new field uniform.
• 50/50 fabric with a permanent press finish.
• Not tested for treatment by field methods.
• Currently a contract to factory treat.
• Flame Retardent Operational Gear (FROG)
  introduced in 2009.
• Being evaluated for factory treatment.

7
Air Force Uniforms

• Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) field 2009.
• 50/50 fabric with permanent press finish.
• ABU has been tested for permethrin treatment by
  IDA kit.

8
Navy Uniforms

• Field Navy Working Uniform in 2010.
• 50/50 fabric with permanent press finish.
• Not supposed to be a deployment uniform but is
  being worn as a deployment uniform.
• Has not been tested for treatment by field
  methods.

9
Treatment Requirements

• Army - TRADOC Core Soldier System CPD 2009
• Initial absorption 0.52 10 w/w initial
  treatment
• Bite protection 70-90 bite protection through
  50 launderings.
• Marines
• Initial absoption 0.52 10 w/w initial
  treatment
• Bite protection 90 protection requirement
  through 50 launderings.
• Air Force
• Navy

10
Absorption/Efficacy Validation

• No DoD Standard requirement to validate that
  field uniform fabric absorption of permethrin are
  IAW EPA labels and
• There is no DoD Standard requiring that a treated
  field uniform provides the required level of bite
  protection.
• Need to ensure that treated uniforms meet
  absorption and bite protection requirements and
  do not pose a health risk to the Service member
  due to over treatment or inadequate bite
  protection.

11
Potential Environmental Impacts

• Failure of uniforms absorb all fluid in the IDA
  kits also poses the potential for environmental
  issues.
• Service members may discard excess permethrin
  into sanitary sewers, storm drains, on the
  ground, or any other convenient place.
• Effluent from Hill AFB, Utah was found to contain
  permethrin during an investigation to determine
  the cause of a fish die-off in a trout stream.

12
Army Current

• PEO Soldier is has awarded contract for factory
  treatment of FRACU
• Will be known as FRACU-P
• Expected fielding in May/June
• PEO Soldier is continuing with evaluation of
  factory treatment of ACU, IVCS, A2C2, ACS, etc

13
Evaluation Protocols

• Natick Soldier Center
• Evaluates concentration of permethrin in fabric.
• Washes uniforms IAW established protocol
• Collects fabric sample for bite testing at
  selected time points.
• USDA-CMAVE
• Evaluates bite protection testing at selected
  time points.

14
Communication Plan

• Briefing developed by CHPPM, POPM, and AFPMB to
  provide information on the benefits of permethrin
  treated clohting.
• Finalizing responses to frequently asked
  questions for posting on web.
• PEO Soldier has a communication program to get
  information out in both print and video.

15
BLUF

• Each new uniform fabric/add-on treatment must be
  tested and evaluated for permethrin treatment to
  ensure it
• meets EPA label initial treatment requirements
• provides the desired bite protection