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Environmental detectors designed for automated detection of chemicals that may kill or seriously injure human beings (i.e., chemical agents), such as industrial toxic chemicals (e.g., ammonia, nitric acid, phosgene, formaldehyde), nerve agents (e.g., tabun, sarin, VX), and blister (vesicant) agents (e.g., mustard, lewisite). Some can also detect nonlethal, irritant (e.g., lacrimator) agents. The sample is typically taken from the atmosphere, but sometimes liquid and/or particle samples are used. Some of these detectors are computerized and detect, identify, and warn of a hazardous condition when predetermined values of the chemical agent have been reached or exceeded. Chemical agent environmental detectors are available mainly as portable or handheld units and less frequently as stand-alone or mobile devices; they are used by healthcare personnel, rescuers, firefighters, and military personnel in accidentally and/or intentionally contaminated or potentially contaminated areas.
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