NCJ Number
195387
Journal
National Fire & Rescue Volume: 26 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2002 Pages: 23-26,45-46,47
Date Published
2002
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This is Part 1 of a four-part series on chemical, biological, and radiological weapons; Part 1 focuses on the various characteristics of chemical agents.
Abstract
Chemical weapons, by definition, are chemical compounds that are intended to cause illness or death in plants, animals, and humans. Depending on the materials referenced, chemical agents are grouped into three major groups: casualty-producing (agents designed with the intent to kill its victims); incapacitating (agents designed to reduce the victim's will to fight); and riot control (agents designed to reduce the victim's will to fight, but which do not have long-lasting effects). Only the casualty-producing agents are discussed in this series. Casualty agents are further broken down into four classes: nerve agents, choking agents, blood agents, and blister agents. Nerve agents are organophosphate compounds. The signs and symptoms of nerve agents are runny nose, tightness of chest, dimness of vision, and myosis; difficulty breathing; drooling and excessive sweating; nausea/vomiting; involuntary defecation and urination; twitching, jerking, and staggering; headache, confusion, drowsiness, and convulsions; coma; and eventually death, which is caused by respiratory arrest. Choking agents, including chlorine, diphosgene, and phosgene, react with the moisture in the airways and break down into hydrochloric acid and oxygen free radicals. Signs and symptoms are coughing; sneezing; pain in the chest; painful swallowing; difficulty breathing; and tightness in the chest. Edema in the airways caused by the agents can bring about death quickly. Blood agents are cyanide compounds. Sustained high concentrations are required for blood agents to be lethal. Blister agents produce reddening of the skin and develop into inflammation and/or blisters. Irritation of the eyes and airways can be immediate. For inhaled agents, respiratory support will be necessary. Other signs and symptoms should be treated symptomatically. The persistence of blister agents is primarily dependent on atmospheric conditions. Charts are used to display the components and effects of the various agents. 10 references