Applications nerve gases

R.M. Black, R.J. Clarke, R.W. Read and M.T.J. Reid, Application of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to the analysis of chemical warfare samples, found to contain residues of the nerve agent sarin, sulfur mustard and their degradation products, J. Chromatogr., A, 662, 301-331 (1994). 

Ward JR. Case report Exposure to a nerve gas. In Whittenberger JL, ed. Artificial Respiration Theory and Applications. New York, NY Harper Row 1962 258-265. 

A particularly exciting new application is under way. It is the development of nanosensors with the ultimate potential for sensitivity, that is, the detection of single molecule interactions. It is expected that a single molecule of phosphate, nerve gas, toxin, and explosive, for example, TNT and the associated DNT, could be detected. The most direct approach to demonstrate this sensitivity and at the same time to do so with high selectivity is to detect a single phosphorylation event, as discussed below. First however, a short description of the atomic force microscope that, when suitably modified and used with designed elastic protein-based polymers, enables a high level of detection. 

Decontamination of chemical warfare agents (CWA s) is important not only for battlefield applications, but for cleanup as well. Some common CWA s are VX-((9-ethyl S -(2iisopropylamino)ethyl methylphosphonotioate), which is a nerve gas, and HD (mustard gas), which is a blistering agent. For much of the CWA decontamination research, CWA simulants which have similar chemical structures and properties as CWA s but are much less toxic, are used. In the work described here, DMMP (dimethylmethylphosphonate) and 2-CEES (2 chloroethyl sulfide) will be used as CWA simulants for VX and HD,... 

Images 22a—c. Method of nerve gas application at Porton Down, 1953... 

Source IWM, Photographic Collection, Method of Application of Nerve Gas on Fore Arm, i8 May 1953. Imperial War Museums (F 519/1-3). 

Miscellaneous applications of phosphates have included use of porphysome nanoparticles as a nontoxic alternative to inorganic nanocrystals for the efficient conversion of light into heat in photothermal therapy, fluorescent phosphates for qualitative and quantitative analysis of organophosphates in water and simultaneous differentiation and quantitative analysis of a methylphosphonate (a nerve gas byproduct) and glyphosate. 

It is unlikely that the unchanged nerve agent would be detected in the blood or tissues of a casualty unless samples were collected very soon after the exposure. A number of methods have been reported for the analysis of nerve agents in blood, for application to animal studies. These involve simple liquid or SPE extraction, for example, using chloroform (sarin, soman) (47), C18 SPE (sarin, soman) l48 49 , ethyl acetate (VX) (50), usually after precipitation of proteins, and analysis by GC/MS or gas chromatography/nitrogen-phosphorus detection (GC/NPD). Sarin bound to cholinesterase and displaced with fluoride ion was extracted by C18 SPE (see Part B) (51). 

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