A low level of mustard agent vapor was detected today inside an igloo storing 105 mm projectiles at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot, according to the Army’s Chemical Materials Agency.
The agent vapor was detected at 10:59 a.m., during weekly chemical monitoring operations.
The facility said the vapor was detected by a mobile laboratory designed to analyze air inside the storage facilities.
As a result, technicians are currently attaching a charcoal filter to the igloo’s air vent. The charcoal filtration system cleans the contaminated air by forcing the air through carbon filters.
A crew dressed in protective equipment will also enter the structure later today to conduct a visual inspection of the projectiles to see if the munitions are leaking, according to the agency.
The depot has notified county and state officials of the mustard agent vapor in the igloo.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
