YELLOW RAIN-ANALYSIS EVALUATION OF LEAF SAMPLE-(PUBDATE UNKNOWN)

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00037509
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2017
• Case Number: F-2012-01432
• Publication Date: March 3, 1984

Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 000037509
Cora, [La�
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Analytical Division
Research Directorate
Analysis/Evaluation of Leaf Sample
A shipment -designated 10027A(5), received by tae Analytical Division
3 Mar 84 from FSTC, contained 19 subpackages. Eight of these samples
have been previously reported...? One container identified with
TH840223-5DL was designated 10027A(5)-4. It consisted of a few yellow
spotted leaves containerized in a plastic bag. Information indicated it
was collected from an area after a reported chemical attack.
A vapor sample wathdrawn from within the plastic bag was subjected
to analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (CC/MS). Three
portions of the leaves were extracted with chloroform. Three other
portions of the leaves were extracted with 1:1 methanol:water. The
solvent soluble caterials were analyzed by GC/MS, ion chromatograph,
(IC), thin layer chromatography (TLC) and infrared spectrometry (IR).
GC/MS analysis of the vapors associated with the leaves did not give
a definitive apeatra. The GC/MS spectra of one solvent extract
Identified the presence of a terpene, the aesquiterpene alcohol nerolidol
and two unidentified compounds. The other solvent extracts did not yield
definitive GC/MS spectra. No ions of interest were separated or
identified by IC. TLC separated components supportive of aromatic or
unsaturated compounds and trichothecenes. MS of these areas identified
only phthalates. IR of the same areas identified aliphatic hydrocarbons
and a carbonyl. IR of the solvent extracts identified high
concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons, a possible unsaturate and
traces of carbonyl. Derivatization with negative ion chemical ionization
detection for trichothecenes tentatively identified the presence of
neosolaniol at picogram levels in one solvent extract. The other
Extracts were negative for trichothecenes. The detection of picogram
levels of trichothecenes could not be confirmed by other laboratories,
due to their aimanum detection level being higher than CRDEC's. Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance (NM) of the same extraCt was negative for HD, C and V
agents and the epoxide structure normally detected in trichothecenes.
It did detect a maxture of alkyl hydrocarbon with methoxy (OCH2) groups.
Information received from SEA indicated T-2 toxin bad been identified by
a near-field laboratory as a component in another sample taken at the
same time and place.
CONCLUSION:
No evidence of any known CW agent or agent degradation product was
detected. The detection of the trichothecene neosolaniol was of
interest, however, the inability of other laboratories to confirm the
CRDEC findings, ard CRDEC's not confirming the T-2 reportedly detected by
SEA laboratories cn other portion of the sample clouds the eagnificance
of the findings. The other chemical substructures identified could be
components of a toxin or related compound, but also could be associated
with an innocuous material.
Classified by: CIA
Declassify: OADR
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 000037509 Ego