The CIA developed the source characteristics for the models by establishing what agent was released, how, how much, and at what rate. Modelers deliberately chose numbers that assumed the highest possible amount of released agent consistent with U.N. discoveries at Fallujah and Ukhaydir. In doing this, they ensured that it would be extremely unlikely for future inspections to discover more mustard was released than what was modeled. Another aspect of this conservative approach was to ignore the effects that normal decay or exposure to light might have in minimizing the extent of the exposure area. Four different weather models were used to derive detailed information about conditions around Ukhaydir during the periods in question.
Dosage is defined as concentration integrated over a specific period of exposure.
The general population limit is the concentration below which the general population, including children and the elderly, could remain indefinitely with no effects. The hazard areas for Ukhaydir were created by running three different combinations of weather and diffusion simulations. The results of the three runs were overlaid to create a composite hazard area. The outer perimeter of this hazard area represented the possibility for exposures above the general population limit. This perimeter did not exceed 125 kilometers distance from Ukhaydir, making it unlikely that U.S. service members, located several hundred kilometers away, were exposed.