Blister agents toxicity

L-l is a vesicant (blister agent) also, it acts as a systemic poison, causing pulmonary edema, diarrhea, restlessness, weakness, subnormal temperature, and low blood pressure. In order of severity and appearance of symptoms, it is a blister agent, a toxic lung irritant, absorbed in tissues, and a systemic poison. When inhaled in high concentrations, it may be fatal in as short a time as 10 min. L-1 is not detoxified by the body. Common routes of entry into the body include ocular, percutaneous, and inhalation. 

HN-2 has the greatest blistering power of the nitrogen mustards in vapor form but is intermediate as a liquid blistering agent. It produces toxic eye effects more rapidly than does HD. 

HD is a vesicant (blister agent) and alkylating agent producing cytotoxic action on the hematopoietic (blood-forming) tissues which are especially sensitive. The rate of detoxification of HD in the body is very slow, and repeated exposures produce a cumulative effect. It causes blisters, irritates the eyes, and it is toxic when inhaled. HD has been determined to be a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. "Blister Agents Lewisite (L) and Mustard-Lewisite Mixture (HL) ToxFAQs." April 2002. 

Guide 153 Substance-Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible) Nerve Agents, Blister Agents... 

Acoustic wave sensors are also used to detect nerve and blister agents. The surface acoustic wave chemical agent detector (SAW Mini-CAD) is a commercially available, pocket-sized instrument that can monitor for trace levels of toxic vapors of sulfur-based mustard agents (e.g., distilled mustard) and G nerve agents (e.g., tabun, sarin, soman) with a high degree of specificity. Colorimetric tubes are the... 

Neurological toxicity is the major dose-limiting toxicity of vincristine, whereas bone marrow toxicity is limiting for vinblastine. Severe neutropenia occurs in approximately half of the patients receiving vinorelbine. Severe leukopenia is the major side effect of vinblastine. These drugs are potent local blistering agents and will produce tissue necrosis if extravasated. 

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. 

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... 

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). 

Little is known about lewisite s stability in the environment, but it can react with water in a manner whereby its volatility and most of its blistering potency are lost. As a potent blister agent, it has irritant effects on the eyes and respiratory system, and has similar toxicities to the other blister agents mentioned above (except that it exhibits less bone marrow suppression). Similar to its dichloroarsine cousins and phosgene oxime, but unlike the mustard vesicants, it can cause pain at the time of initial contact. There is often no erythema around the vesicles as with other mustard agents. 

---