A Spray to Disarm Bombs: in the hands of the general public?

Published on Thursday, 30 June 2011 15:12

 

By Amy Hallam

Bombs Planted by Terrorists Could Now Be Detected and Disarmed by New Explosive Detection Spray

Since the recent assassination of Al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden, the UK has been made the centre of terrifying threats of revenge. The government has warned citizens to be vigilant, causing the frightening prospect of forever looking over our shoulders. 

Our country is well aware of the possible outcome of terror attacks. Fifty-six people were killed in 2005 when suicide bombers planted devices on a number of London’s transport links. Four people carrying deadly bombs in deceptive packages caused death and devastation amongst what we considered to be a safe country.

So how would the British public react if they knew that a new device available to everybody could significantly reduce the threat of a repeat attack?

Inventor Allen Apblett, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Oklahoma State University, founded Xplosafe, a company which markets a range of products designed to detect and disarm the harmful substances used in explosives.

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How it works

Xpell and XploSens, two of the products available to purchase online, are made from compounds found in molybdenum and are designed to react with potentially dangerous chemicals such as chlorate, bromate and peroxide to neutralise the explosive effects.

The product changes colour in the presence of explosive chemicals, from blue to clear, and informs the user when the explosive has been disarmed.

As well as the spray on liquid, this clever product can come in a range of different formats, including air testing strips, stationary airport screening and can even be clipped onto clothing in the form of a badge.

For $200 (which is the equivalent of £123.00 GBP) you can buy enough XploSens Spray to test 100 potential explosives.

There are currently no other products like this on the market, meaning XploSafe could revolutionise the security industry. In times when home-made devices are being planted on a frighteningly regular basis, this invention is set be a great asset to our country.

The products are available worldwide and are specifically aimed at places of high security risk such as airports, train stations and other well-known tourist areas. However these products can be purchased for personal use, if the buyer is particularly worried about coming into contact with an explosive device.

Is it a good idea being made available to the public?

The hand-held spray is easy to use, store and transport, meaning it can be at hand in case of any suspected attack.

With the product so readily available, however, it begs the question whether citizens would get a little too trigger happy and spray objects unnecessarily. I doubt an innocent banker with a ‘suspicious’ looking briefcase would be too pleased if his black leather was doused in chemicals.

It must also be considered that suspecting a person based on their ethnic origin is an infringement of human rights, so users must fully consider their decision before any action is taken. The majority of people would find it incredibly insulting if they were to be treated as a suspected terrorist.

Controversial issues like this can only be expected if the product did make it into the hands of the public.

It may be considered much safer if the power of chemical neutralisation is left in responsible hands, such as those of security staff with appropriate training. In the right hands, however, it is clear this product could have incredible value.

The inventor is particularly pleased with the outcome of his project. The XploSafe website states that their mission is: “To create safe environments through chemical detection and neutralisation”. If enough coverage is brought to these products, our world could become a much safer place.

Apblett, who has written a number of books on his findings as a professor of chemistry, studied at Harvard University in 1989 following earlier graduation with a PHD and Honours Degree.

When asked whether he feels this invention would be particularly useful in today’s times when terror attacks are likely to be imminent, he told us: “Their use can prevent terrorist attacks. In particular, we can identify improvised explosives that are difficult to detect by current methods.”

Laboratory Use

As well as their use in places of high security threat, XploSafe products can also be purchased for use in laboratories. Unplanned explosions are always a possibility when working amongst a variety of powerful chemicals, but Apblett has found a solution to prevent this.

XPell pellets can be placed in liquid chemicals to prevent the formation of the explosive peroxides. $109 (£68.00 GBP) worth of pellets will neutralise up to 8 litres of solvent, and will keep the laboratory safe for six months.

Apblett hopes that the XploSafe products will take effect on the security industry soon and will be available to use in a vast amount of airports by next year.

We can only hope that the government will take the measures necessary and use the products available on the market to their full capacity, ensuring maximum security for our country.

If Al-Qaeda were to follow through with their threats of revenge, we would be ready and able to act on a much faster scale with the XploSafe products to hand.

Relevant Links and Videos

XploSafe

Allen Apblett talking about his research (Video)