Blister agents or vesicants

Blister agents or vesicants are chemicals that cause blister or vesicle formation upon dermal contact. Agents such as mustards or lewisite have been used as CWAs in the past (Yu et al., 2003). Although these agents have less toxicity than nerve agents, they cause prolonged... 

VESICANT. A substance that causes redness and blisters ( vesicles ), typically on contact with the skin or mucous membranes of the eyes, airways, and lungs. A synonym is blister agent or blistering agent. The sun and certain plants, especially poison ivy, have vesicating properties. Examples of vesicants used for military purposes in chemical weapons (CW) include lewisite, nitrogen mustard, and sulfur mustard. 

Sulfur mustard is a known human carcinogen, and some of its degradation products may also be carcinogenic (IOM, 1993). Sulfur mustard acts as a vesicant or blister agent and shows acute systemic toxicity in addition to its effects on skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract. 

Vesicants (i.e., blister agents such as mustard or lewisite)... 

The so-called vesicants or blister agents, such as mustard gas and lewisite, have less utility for terrorists. In a classic World War 1 combat setting, these toxic compounds are highly effective casualty agents that cause... 

Sulfur mustard is a blistering or vesicating agent that primarily incurs damage at the organs that come into immediate contact with either its liquid or vaporous form. However, severe dermal and respiratory exposure to the agent may also result in the absorption of sulfur mustard that subsequently causes additional systemic damage (Kehe and Szinicz, 2005). 

Extreme caution must be used in handling this material mustard gas ). Avoid all contact of the unprotected skin with the liquid or vapor since it is toxic and a potent vesicant blistering agent). 

Examples of vesicant or blister agents with military designators in parentheses ... 

Toxic chemicals that have been developed, produced and used as CW agents are usually subdivided into four categories pulmonary toxicants, blood agents, vesicants or blister agents, and nerve agents. 

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