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For Immediate
Release
July 23, 2004
Scentczar hosts second annual symposium to combat terrorism
RICHMOND, Va. – More than 70 scientists, industry
leaders and government officials attended the second annual
symposium
on toxic chemicals and materials co-sponsored by Smiths Detection
and Virginia BioTechnology Research Park tenant, Scentczar
Corporation.
Held July 20 – 22, the meeting at Virginia Commonwealth
University’s School of Engineering was a great success,
said Scentczar President Joseph Roehl, Ph.D.
According to Roehl, “Determining what industrial chemicals
could be used in terrorist activities has become a critical
issue in homeland defense. The purpose of this event was
to bring together industry and government representatives
to evaluate
the problem and begin discussions between various government
agencies, chemical industry representatives and emergency
equipment developers to implement solutions.”
Toxic industrial chemicals and materials are a particular concern
to national security because of their availability, toxicity
and the ease by which they can be incorporated into terrorist
activities. Many organizations have developed hazard indices
that list and rank industrial chemicals according to their
production, storage, toxicity and vapor pressure as well as
flammability and corrosiveness. Based on these indices, the
government can work cooperatively with private industry to
protect the public against terrorist attacks.
Glen Rudner, hazardous materials officer for the Virginia Department
of Emergency Management, spoke to participants about the dilemmas
first responders face in dealing with TICs and TIMs.
" The reality is that hazardous materials are being transported
though our communities on a day-to-day basis,” said
Rudner. “Companies
must begin to develop more practical, cost-effective equipment
that focuses on what first responders need, not only in an
event involving weapons of mass destruction, but also for
the threats involving TICs and TIMs that are around us every
day.”
Other speakers at the three-day symposium included: Dan
Civis with the Department of Homeland Security, Sheri Bettis
with
the FBI’s Hazardous Materials Response Unit, Steve
Haupt of SAIC, and Marsh Cuttino of Resus LLC.
Scentzar, a small Virginia business, recently patented the
world’s first Residual Life Indicator, a device designed
to ensure that the carbon beds used in chemically protective
suits, gas-mask filters and collective protection filters
for buildings will operate properly during a chemical warfare
attack.
Scentczar also develops low-power custom electronic hardware,
pattern-recognition software and chemical instruments used
in a wide range of areas, including weapon systems, hydrocarbon
fuel storage and spoilage, locomotive efficiency, and de-icing
technology.
" The biotechnology industry continues to play an integral
role in national defense, whether it is in assisting the
development
of vaccines for infectious diseases, creating measures to
ensure the safety of the nation’s food and drug supply
or protection of drinking waters supplies,” said Robert
Skunda, president and CEO of the BioTech Park. “Inhibiting
the use of toxic industrial chemicals in terrorist activities
has now
become
an important area for which our biotechnology companies are
creating innovative solutions.”
Contact:
Nicky Colomb
Virginia BioTechnology Research Park
Phone: (804) 828-6884
E-mail: ncolomb@vabiotech.com
Web site: http://www.vabiotech.com
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