CHEMICAL WARFARE

1 Pages 272 Words

Nerve Agents

Health Effects. Nerve agents include physostigmine (reversible) and organophosphorus (irreversible) cholinesterase inhibitors, which disable enzymes responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses. Initial incapacitating effects of organophosphorus agents occur within 1-10 minutes of exposure, and death occurs within 15 minutes for Tabun, Sarin, and Soman and from 4-42 hours for VX.
Agents Include:

Tabun (NATO military designation, GA)
Sarin (NATO military designation, GB)
Soman (NATO military designation, GD)
GF (Cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate)
VX (Methylphosphonothioic acid S-(2-(bis(1-methylethyl)amino)ethyl) O-ethyl ester)
GE (Phosphonofluoridic acid, ethyl-, isopropyl ester)
VE (Phosphonothioic acid, ethyl-, S-(2-(diethylamino)ethyl) O-ethyl ester)
VG (Amiton)
VM (Phosphonothioic acid, methyl-, S-(2-(diethylamino)ethyl) O-ethyl ester)
Blister/Vesicant Agents

Health Effects. Vesicant agents cause blisters on skin and damage the eyes, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, and internal organs. Through chemical processes, mustard agents destroy different substances within cells of living tissue. Initial effects are somewhat delayed for mustards, occurring 12 to 24 hours after exposure, but are rapid for other agents. Symptoms are variable and acute mortality is low, but death can occur from complications after lung injury.

Agents Include:

Lewisite (L)
Mustard-Lewisite (HL)
Nitrogen mustards (HN-1, HN-2, HN-3
Phosgene oxime (CX)
Sulfur mustards (H, HD, HT)
Blood Agents

Health Effects. Agents are highly volatile, but rapidly acting agents that cause seizures, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest through interference with absorption of oxygen into the bloodstream.

Agents Include:

Cyanogen chloride (CK)
Hydrogen cyanide (AC)
Pulmonary Agents

Health Effects. Such agents are liquids dispersed in a gaseous form that damage the respiratory tract and cause seve...