Bums, sulfur mustard

Graham, J.S., Schomacker, K.T., Glatter, R.D., Briscoe, C.M., Braue, E.H., Jr., Squibb, K.S. (2002b). Efficacy of laser debridement with autologous split-thickness skin grafting in promoting improved healing of deep cutaneous sulfur mustard bums. Bums 28 719-30. 

Graham, J.S., Chilcott, R.P., Rice, P., Milner, S.M., Hurst, C.G., Maliner, B.I. (2005). Wound healing of cutaneous sulfur mustard injuries strategies for the development of improved therapies. J. Bums Wounds 4 el. 

Graham, J.S., Reid, F.M., Smith, J.R., Stotts, R.R., Tucker, E.S., Shumaker, S.M., Niemuth, N.A., Janny, S.J. (2000). A cutaneous full-thickness liquid sulfur mustard bum model in weanling swine clinical pathology and minary excretion of thiodiglycol. J. ripp/. Toxicol. 20 161-72. 

Margulis, A., Chaouat, M., Ben-Bassat, H., Eldad, A., Icekson, M., Breiterman, S., Neuman, R. (2007). Comparison of topical iodine and silver sulfadiazine as therapies against sulfur mustard bums in a pig model. Wound Repair Regen. 15 916-21. 

Pant, S.C., Vijayaraghavan, R. (2002). Histochemical and histomorphological alterations in the lungs of mice following acute sulfur mustard inhalation. J. Bums 1 6-15. 

In the conjunctiva and cornea, sulfur mustard exposure causes loosening of epithelial cells accompanied by corneal edema and opacification (Warthin Weller, 1919). Even low-dose exposure of sulfur mustard to the eyes can be incapacitating (ocular ICt5o = 50 to 100 mg-min/m3). Only limited studies of sulfur mustard-induced eye injuries in animals are available (Kadar et al., 1996 Maumenee Scholz, 1948 Warthin Weller, 1919). These suggest that the microscopic pathology is similar to most chemical injuries with the exception of acid and alkali bums. 

MUSTARD GAS. An enduring but flawed name for the chemical fcw(2-chloroethyl)sulfide, a chemical warfare (CW) agent that causes blisters and bums. A preferred term is sulfur mustard. This substance is neither a mustard (in the sense used by chemists) nor, under ordinary conditions, a gas. The substance was discovered repeatedly and independently by chemists in the 19th century, and one of these chemists, Frederick Guthrie, remarked in 1859 that the chemical had an odor resembling that of oil of mustard and that it tasted like horseradish. In its pure state, mustard gas is a straw-colored liquid, although impurities can cause it to appear reddish-brown to black. In any event, the liquid bears little resemblance in color, odor, or taste to the condiment mustard. 

Physiological Effects. The sulfur and nitrogen mustards act first as cell irritants and finally as a cell poison on all tissue surfaces contacted. The first symptoms usually appear in 4—6 h (4). The higher the concentration, the shorter the interval of time between the exposure to the agent and the first symptoms. Local action of the mustards results in conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eyes) erythema (redness of the skin), which may be followed by blistering or ulceration and an inflammatory reaction of the nose, throat, trachea, bronchi, and lung tissue. Injuries produced by mustard heal much more slowly and are much more Fable to infection than bums of similar intensity produced by physical means or by other chemicals. 

Two separate test bums were conducted in accordance with the EPP to demonstrate that project emission limits could be met. First, sulfur hexafluoride (SF ), a thermally-stable surrogate, was injected and burned to optimize operating conditions and demonstrate thermal destruction efficiency and acid gas removal capabilities. Batches of frozen mustard were then processed under the optimized conditions to establish system performance for regulatory approval. The SF6 and mustard test bum results are summarized in Table 6.3. 

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