US airport screeners to test for nitrocellulose

Airline Industry Information, Oct 15, 2003

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

US airport screeners are to begin screening for nitrocellulose which could turn items such as jackets, pillows and toys into bombs.

American intelligence officials have reportedly received several indications from what are described as credible independent sources that al-Qaida is attempting to create nitrocellulose to make explosive devices. The chemical can be created by combining cotton or cotton-like material with nitric acid, sulphuric acid or nitroglycerine. The chemical if dried correctly emits no odour.

Airport screeners will be able to detect the chemical after taking a sample from the item on a specially treated cotton swab and testing it in a trace-detection machine, according to the Washington Post.

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