Toward maintaining canine training aid integrity: Visualizing contamination and testing storage materials for a non‐hazardous canine training aid

Abstract

Contamination of canine training aids is a pervasive issue that may lead to incorrect canine discrimination of target odors. It is therefore important to properly store training materials to maintain their integrity and efficiency. First, this study demonstrated the potential for contamination using GloGerm™ as a proxy for odor/particulate transfer. Then, eight types of containers were evaluated to determine (1) the ability to prevent odor permeation and (2) the likelihood of maintaining the ab/adsorbed odor. Lastly, a longitudinal study evaluated how the permeation of the target odor changed over time. Analysis occurred using a direct analysis in real‐time mass spectrometer (DART‐MS) to detect triacetone triperoxide (TATP) from the non‐hazardous canine training aid known as the polymer odor capture‐and‐release (POCR) system. Results showed that Mylar and Opsak bags were most effective for short‐term storage, maintaining low levels of ab/adsorption. Over time, the amount of TATP permeating through the primary containers and collecting in a secondary container (i.e., outer packaging) increased at 1 week and decreased thereafter (up to 4 months). The amount of TATP collecting in the primary containers, however, increased up to 1 month and decreased thereafter.

Towards maintaining canine training aid integrity: Effects of environmental factors and operational use on the triacetone triperoxide polymer odor capture‐and‐release system

“…These results agree with those of Simon et al [16] and Gauthier et al [25]. These results also agree with the general canine best practice of using primary and secondary containment for all odors and training aids [28].…”

“…It is also notable that no other compounds besides TATP were detected in the headspace either before or after transportation. This implies that the containment system (shown in Figure 1) effectively prevented contamination, as has been shown in previous studies [16,25]. No contamination was observed for the blanks.…”

“…Storage of explosives kits has been studied and demonstrated cross-contamination and odor decay that affect canine training [21][22][23][24]. Gauthier et al [25] examined different primary storage containers for the TATP POCR and determined that Mylar and Opsak bags prevented the most odor permeation, while also minimizing odor absorption. Mylar bags were thus selected as the primary container for the TATP POCR, with the use of a secondary container, such as a glass or metal jar.…”

“…Mylar bags were thus selected as the primary container for the TATP POCR, with the use of a secondary container, such as a glass or metal jar. The current study is a sister study to Gauthier et al [25], which provided guidance on preventing contamination while using a TATP POCR kit. The study herein used the established TATP POCR storage mechanism and transported it to two different locations to examine moisture gain or loss, mass gain or loss, TATP headspace concentrations, and possible contamination.…”