Impact of Donning Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Suit and Its Effect on Human Audio-visual Performance

Abstract Background: Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies can arise from a wide array of accidents or incidents. These can include industrial accidents, radiation fallout from mishandling, natural disasters, or planned terrorist and military actions. Various protective suits are used globally to provide adequate protection for personnel operating in such scenarios, whether for relief, rescue, security, or other tasks. These suits may differ in design but share the common goal of mitigating hazards. However, even the most advanced protective gear is likely to have some limitations on human activities. Although the challenges posed by the various CBRN suits act in multiple ways, in this study, we assess and quantify the impact of donning the nuclear, biological, and chemical-individual protective equipment Mark 4 (NBC IPE Mk IV) suit on the “Peripheral Field of Vision” and “Hearing Threshold” of adult Indian males. Methods: The study was conducted on 30 volunteer adult males aged between 18 and 35 years. Their peripheral field of vision was tested, and pure-tone audiometry was performed to determine the differences before and after donning the protective Mk IV suit. Results: Donning of IPE Mk IV suit reduced all four fields of vision in both eyes. This reduction in all four fields of vision was statistically significant ( P < 0.001). The maximum reduction was seen in the nasal field of vision for both eyes. It also increased the mean auditory threshold for both ears at all the tested frequencies. The increase in the auditory threshold was also statistically significant ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: A decline in visual field and auditory acuity led to a functional compromise of the NBC suit’s utility despite its protection from known hazards. These functional declines must be important considerations by operation commanders during any deployment to mitigate nuclear, biological, and chemical emergencies.