How does mustard gas affect animals?

Extremely high exposures to mustard agents can cause central nervous system excitation leading to convulsions in animals (Anslow and Houck, 1946).

Is lewisite a nerve agent?

Sarin is a human-made chemical warfare agent classified as a nerve agent.

What is phosgene oxime used for?

Phosgene oxime was developed as a potential chemical warfare agent (military designation CX), but has not been used on the battlefield. Phosgene oxime is of military interest because it penetrates garments and rubber much more quickly than do other chemical agents.

Are the effects of chemical agent exposure experienced quickly or after a period of time has occurred?

Some chemical agents may be odorless and tasteless. They can have an immediate effect (a few seconds to a few minutes) or a delayed effect (several hours to several days). While potentially lethal, chemical agents are difficult to deliver in lethal concentrations. Outdoors, the agents often dissipate rapidly.

Is there an antidote for lewisite?

ANTIDOTE: British Anti-Lewisite (BAL; dimercaprol) binds to the arsenic in lewisite to decrease the toxicity of this agent. BAL is given by intramuscular (IM) injection as an antidote for whole-body (systemic) health effects of lewisite but has no effect on local lesions of the skin, eyes, or airways.

What does phosgene oxime smell like?

Also known as “L,” this agent smells like geraniums and could also be confused with ammonia. Specific information about this agent is very limited. It was first produced as a chemical warfare agent in 1929, but was never actually used in the battlefield. Phosgene oxime has an irritating odor.

Is phosgene a nerve agent?

Although less toxic than many other chemical weapons such as sarin, phosgene is still regarded as a viable chemical warfare agent because of its simpler manufacturing requirements when compared to that of more technically advanced chemical weapons such as the first-generation nerve agent tabun.

Who first used chemical weapons?

German military
The German military launches the first large-scale use of chemical weapons in war at Ypres, Belgium.

What chemical agent is lighter than air?

Anhydrous ammonia gas is lighter than air and will rise, so that generally it dissipates and does not settle in low-lying areas.

How long are blisters delayed with lewisite oxime?

Blisters (within 1 hour with phosgene oxime, delayed for 2 to 12 hours with lewisite, delayed for 2 to 24 hours with mustards) Erythema (immediate with lewisite and phosgene oxime, may be delayed for 2 to 24 hours with mustards)

What are the effects of phosgene oxime vapor?

The effects of phosgene oxime vapor and liquid on the skin, eyes and lungs are almost instantaneous. No other chemical agent is capable of producing immediate extreme pain followed by rapid local tissue death (necrosis). Phosgene oxime was developed as a potential chemical warfare agent (military designation CX),…

What kind of effects can lewisite have on the body?

DESCRIPTION: Lewisite is an extremely toxic, arsenic-containing blister agent (vesicant) that affects the lungs and causes whole-body (systemic) effects. It has an odor of geraniums. It was developed as a potential chemical warfare agent (military designation, L), but has not been used on the battlefield. Exposure to large amounts can be fatal.

Why is phosgene oxime important to the military?

Agent Characteristics. Phosgene oxime is of military interest because it penetrates garments and rubber much more quickly than do other chemical agents. When mixed with other chemical agents (e.g., nerve agents), the rapid skin damage caused by phosgene oxime may make the skin more permeable to the second agent.