HHS study: Removing clothes, wiping with cloth removes 99 percent of contaminants

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a sponsored study on Tuesday that found that up to 99 percent of chemical contamination can be removed by carefully removing clothes and wiping skin with a paper towel or dry wipe.

The study was sponsored by HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response via its Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Research was primarily conducted by the University of Hertfordshire in England and Public Health England, an agency of the United Kingdom’s Department of Health.

The study concluded that removing clothes removes up to 90 percent of chemical contamination and wiping exposed skin with a paper towel or wipe removes another nine percent of chemical contamination. A subsequent shower was found to bring contamination levels down to 99.9 percent.

“Whether we’re facing a chemical terrorism attack or an industrial accident, every minute counts in protecting health after chemical exposure,” Dr. Richard Hatchett, acting director at BARDA, said. “This study provides critical scientific evidence of effective actions emergency responders and community partners should consider in their emergency plan.”

Findings also suggest the need to avoid the common practice of using high-pressure water from fire engines to shower clothed patients as the first and primary method of decontamination.