Agent CK Cyanogen Chloride

Mechanism of Toxicity. A review of the available literature suggested that the mechanism of toxic action of CK in mammals is a combination of respiratory irritation and interference of cellular metabolism by the cyanide ion the overall toxicity of CK appears to be a function of released free cyanide and the intact CK molecule. However, rapid conversion of CK to cyanide in humans would be expected. 

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Table 6. Physical and chemical properties of agent CK (cyanogen chloride).

Toxicity data specific for agent CK (cyanogen chloride) are limited. The majority of available data for humans and animals concern the effects of short-term inhalation exposures few experimental data addressing the toxic effects of longterm exposure to CK are available. 

ALARA As low as reasonably achievable BAL British Anti-Lewisite CIA Central Intelligence Organization CK Cyanogen chloride (blood agent)... 

Some compounds have a detoxification rate that is significant. Because the body detoxifies such chemical agents as AC and cyanogen chloride (CK) at a fairly rapid rate, it takes high concentrations of these agents to produce maximum casualty effects. 

Williams, Kenneth E. Detailed Facts About Blood Agent Cyanogen Chloride (CK). Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, 1996. 

Guides for Emergency Response Chemical Agent or Weapon Cyanogen Chloride (CK) ... 

Industrial Agents Chemicals manufactured for industrial purposes rather than to specifically kill or maim human beings. Hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride, phosgene, and chloropicrin are industrial chemicals that can be military agents as well AC, CK, CG, and PS. Many herbicides and pesticides are industrial chemicals that also can be chemical agents. 

CK. U.S. military designation for Chemical Warfare Agent,Cyanogen Chloride. See Vol 2, pC167-L... 

Cyanogen Chloride. See CK under Chemical Agents or Chemical Warfare Agents, Vol 2, p C167-L... 

Blood agents Also known as cyanogens, they include arsine (SA), cyanogen chloride (CK), and hydrogen chloride (AC), and are transported in the bloodstream through the body. Blood agents do not typically affect the blood but may interrupt the production of blood components and cause toxic effect at the cellular level. 

Physical Properties. CK has a low bp (13°C), a mp of —6°C, and a molecular mass of 61.5. Under standard conditions (STP), CK has a vapor density of about 2.1, whereas that of HCN is 0.93. Its density at 0°C is 1.2. A colorless gas at room temperamre, cyanogen chloride is often handled as a cylinder of liquefied gas. The volatility of cyanogen chloride renders it a nonpersistent threat agent. Cyanogen chloride shows solubility in water (69 g/L) and in most organic solvents (e.g., ethanol, chloroform, or benzene). 

Cyanuric chloride, being less toxic than CK, is of reduced value as a CWA. To minimize this, the French produced an agent for use in WWI that they called Vitrite (also identihed as Vivrite), a mixture containing 70% cyanogen chloride and 30% arsenic trichloride. CK also can be stabilized using sodium pyrophosphate (Na4P207) (Kleber and Birdsell, 1959). 

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