Wet skin absorbs more mustard than does dry skin. Individuals can be protected from small mustard droplets or vapor by wearing protective masks and permeable protective clothing. The use of impermeable clothing and masks can protect against large droplets, splashes and smears. Detection Paper Detection paper relies on certain dyes being soluble in chemical warfare agents. When a drop of chemical warfare agent is absorbed by the paper, it dissolves one of the pigments.
Mustard agent dissolves a red dye and nerve agent a yellow.
Detection paper can thus be used to distinguish between three different types of chemical warfare agents. A disadvantage with the papers is that many other substances can also dissolve the pigments. Consequently, they should not be located in places where drops of substances such as solvent, fat, oil, or fuel can fall on them. Drops of water produce no reaction. Depending on the spot diameter and density on the detection paper, it is possible to gauge the original size of the droplets and the degree of contamination.