Arsenic odor caused

Arsenic vesicants cause instantaneous irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin, which provides warning of their presence. Extended exposures cause violent coughing, sneezing, and regurgitation. The odor of arsenic vesicants varies with the individual compound and ranges from odorless to fruity to flowery. Odors may not be discernable due to irritation. 

Besides the odor, there may be no other immediate sign that a person is breathing arsine. Its main effect is to destroy red blood cells, causing anemia (destruction of red blood cells) and kidney damage (from red blood cell debris). Within hours after a serious exposure, the victim may develop dark red or brown urine, back pain or belly pain, weakness, or shortness of breath. The skin or eyes may become yellow or bronze in color. Although arsine is related to arsenic, it does not produce the usual signs of arsenic poisoning. 

Arsine, the most toxic form of arsenic, exhibits some characteristics that may make it useful as a chemical warfare (CW) agent. Arsine is a colorless, odorless, nonirritating gas and is 2.5 times denser than air (Henriksson et al, 1996 Pullen-James and Woods, 2006 Thomas and Young, 2001). At concentrations above 0.5 ppm, a garlic-like odor may be noted, but arsine is toxic at much lower concentrations. Acute arsine poisoning due to inhalation of arsine gas (AsHs) is rare but has no known antidote. It is the most acutely toxic form of arsenic causing rapid and severe hemolysis immediately on exposure. The mechanisms of hemolysis are not completely understood. Arsine has a short half-life (27-96 h) and is converted to various arsenic derivatives. Although it... 

Phosgene oxime or dichlorformoxime is a nettle gas or urticant. These act as irritants to the skin and mucous membrane and, like arsenicals but unlike mustards, cause pain on immediate skin contact. Severe pain is noted. Very low doses cause lacrimat-ion. It is a liquid or colorless solid and has a disagreeable odor. Unlike mustards and arsenicals, it is readily soluble in water. 

Arsine (CAS 7784-42-1) Extremely toxic hemolytic agent. Symptoms include abdominal pain, jaundice, hemoglobinuria, and renal failure. Low-level chronic exposures reported to cause anemia. See also p119. 0.05 ppm NIOSH CA 3 ppm ERPG-2 0.5 ppm ERPG-3 1.5 ppm 4 4 2 Colorless gas with an unpleasant gadic-like odor. Flammable. Breakdown products Include arsenic trioxIde and arsenic fumes. Used In the semiconductor industry. 

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